Queen Elizabeth Prepares to Count Her Swans

The annual census of the swan population on the river Thames is a tradition that dates back to the 12th century. As eccentric as it may seem, the swans expect it and are used to it. Read on for more information.

According to news sources, Buckingham Palace has announced that the queen’s official Swan Marker, David Barber, will conduct the annual Swan Upping from July 20-24. A spokesperson for the palace said:

“With the assistance of the Queen's Swan Warden, the swans and young cygnets are assessed for any signs of injury or disease. The process involves … rowing up the Thames for five days with the Swan Warden in traditional skiffs while wearing special scarlet uniforms and counting, weighing and measuring swans and cygnets.”

In medieval times, the Swan Marker was not only involved in traveling up the river and counting the swans but also in apprehending as many of the slower swimmers as he could (and then of course subtracting them from the total count). Swan meat was a delicacy highly sought after for royal banquets and feasts. Considered frivolous by some, this annual tradition is seeped in tradition and is of great importance to the queen. According to custom, Britain's sovereign owns all unmarked, mute swans in open water, but the queen now exercises the right only on stretches of the Thames and its nearby tributaries. This year, the Swan Marker and the Swan Warden are particularly eager to discover how much damage is being caused to swans and cygnets by attacks from dogs and from discarded fishing tackle. This annual trek is different from all others before it because Queen Elizabeth herself has decided to join the team for part of the census. She will follow them up the river and visit a local school project on the whole subject of swans, cygnets and the Thames. In the words of a Buckingham palace spokesman:

“Education and conservation are essential to the role of Swan Upping and the involvement of school children is always a rewarding experience.”

Perhaps so, but has anyone asked the swans how they feel about all this? By the way, what do YOU think about this?