Swan Upping: Annual Census of Britain's Swans Has Begun
- Editor OGN Daily
- Jul 16, 2025
- 2 min read
One of the more obscure titles of the British monarch is Seigneur of the Swans - Lord of the Swans - and according to ancient lore, he or she owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain’s open waters.
The annual five-day census of swans (now belonging to King Charles III), known as Swan Upping, began Monday on the River Thames to count their numbers and to assess their health. The tradition dates back to the 12th century, when swans were considered an important food for royal banquets and feasts.
A team of carefully selected oarsmen - Swan Uppers - are tasked with finding the swans on the Thames. When a family is spotted, they shout, “All up!” and the boats quickly surround the birds. They then mark and weigh and measure them, and check for signs of disease or injury. It's a quirky mix of vivid royal spectacle and conservation project, with spectators lining riverbanks and the backs of suburban gardens to watch this flotilla sailing past.
“It gives us an indication of what’s going on throughout the country,” said David Barber, who wears a scarlet jacket and a white swan feather in his cap and bears the title of King’s Swan Marker. “It’s a tradition, but I think it’s serving a very useful purpose as well.”
Barber has been leading the event for more than 30 years. He is accompanied by a vet and oarsmen dressed in three colours: red for the king, white for the Worshipful Company of Vintners and blue stripes for the Worshipful Company of Dyers. The last two are medieval London trade guilds that were granted ownership of some Thames swans in the 15th century.
The census continues until Friday, traveling from Sunbury, on the outskirts of London, to Abingdon, 80 miles (130 km) upstream.
