Britain Begins Its Yearly Royal Swan Count

Annual Swan Census Begins on the Thames

London – A striking scarlet uniform stands out against the Riverbank as a wooden skiff glides through the water. A young swan, carefully lifted from the river, is measured, examined, and then released back.

The annual count of swans that belong to Charles III, referred to as Swan Apping, kicked off on Monday along the Thames River, aiming to assess the health of these birds.

One of the lesser-known roles of the British monarch includes being the master of swans—often called the swan lord. According to tradition, the monarch has ownership over all mute swans found in open British waters.

Every year, a select team known as the Swan Upper is responsible for locating the swans along the Thames.

When a family of swans is spotted, the team shouts, “All up!” to surround the birds quickly, marking them and checking for any signs of illness or injury.

David Barber, wearing a scarlet jacket paired with white swan wings and holding the title of King Swan Marker, stated, “It shows us what’s going on all over the country. It’s a tradition, but I think it also serves a very useful purpose.” Barber has been leading this census for over three decades, supported by a veterinarian and a team dressed in three colors: red representing the king, white for the worship of the Vinner, and blue stripes tied to the medieval London trade guilds that were given ownership of some swans during the 15th century.

This census tradition dates back to the 12th century when swans were vital for royal feasts and banquets.

Although swans are now protected by law, they continue to face numerous challenges, such as diseases, pollution, vandalism, and cruelty, according to Barber.

The population of swans has diminished over the past two years, largely due to an avian flu outbreak across the UK. Last year, only 86 young swans were documented during the swan rise.