"All up' - Queen's swans checked in 800-year-old census
16th July 2019
A royal tradition dating back to the 12th century is being carried out this week as the annual Swan Upping takes place on the River Thames.
For the past 800 years, the swan population along the Thames has been checked and measured – first as a ceremony, but now as a matter of conservation. The Swan Upping started when the Royal Family claimed ownership of the mute swans along the river.