Swans

A short post today, about the relationship between swans and The Crown. In the twelfth century The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans. The birds were considered a luxury, and popular food for banquets and feasts. Nobles had to apply to the monarch for rights of ownership, and identified their own swans by marking their beaks.

The reigning British monarch retains the ownership rights to all unmarked mute swans in open water. The late Queen reserved exercising this right to birds on certain stretches of the Thames and its tributaries.

Swan Upping, the annual census of swans along the River Thames, takes place during the third week of July. The sovereign’s Swan Marker and Swan Warden work together to count the number of cygnets, and check the health of both cygnets and adult swans. On the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III inherited ownership of unmarked mute swans in open water.

These beautiful birds may be seen around the UK, in shallow lakes, slow flowing rivers, and areas of parkland. Protected by law, around 30,000 of them are resident in the UK.