AND one of the perhaps least known English traditions, that of annual count of swans Royal, o Swan Upping in English, but also one of the oldest. A regular appointment that takes place at the beginning of summer along the entire Thames and which in 2023 is held for the first time in the name of King Charles III, the new owner of around 32,000 prized birds.
The royal swans of Charles III inherited from the mother
The environmentalist and animal rights activist Carlo enthusiastically gave his consent to continue a tradition that dates back as far as the 12th century, when the meat of a white swan was considered a delicacy from haute cuisine, destined to enrich the table of medieval monarchs. For this reason, all the swans of the Thames, therefore close to the Royal residences, were considered the exclusive property of the Royal Family.
Elizabeth II personally followed the operations
Nowadays, swans are a protected species and the chefs at Buckingham Palace would refuse to cook them. However, the recent increase in cases of avian flu and the frequency of acts of cruelty committed against these particularly vulnerable birds are of concern at court. So much so that every year the same Elizabeth II had the census results sent to her to verify for himself that the number of his swans had not decreased.
King Charles’s ‘Swan Uppers’ Start Counting Swans on the Thames (IPA)
Swan counting begins on the Thames
Every year, in the third week of July, a fleet of small rowing boats with a Royal flag ply the length and breadth of the river in search of swans. Captained by David Barber, lo Swan Marker (the official king scorer)the census takers – mostly zoologists from the University of Cambridge – form a team of Swan Uppers, so called because they are the ones who “pick up” the swans from the water.
Mute swans are taken from the river and carefully weighed and checked, London, July 2023 (IPA)
During the counting operations, all the Swan Uppers of King Charles must show off the official uniform: scarlet cap and jacket over white trousers. Only it Swan Marker, in charge of the operation, wears a white cap. Which this year, for the first time, reveals the official monogram of King Charles
Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by David Barber, her “Swan Marker”, personally supervised the progress of the count, London, July 2009 (Getty Images)
All mute swans are subjected to a check up
In addition to registering newborns, the census is actually an excuse to check the state of health of each young or old swan, his eating and travel habits. The animal is brought ashore and carefully weighed, measured and examined before being released back into the river.
Carlo also inherited whales and dolphins
In order to monitor birds throughout the year, a ring with a sophisticated microchip is attached to one of each swan’s legs. AND like Elizabeth, Charles will also want to be informed of any changes. Just as she will do, annually, for the whales, dolphins, sturgeons and porpoises present on the British coasts and – even those – inherited from her mother.
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