King Charles III’s Swans Get a Health Check: The Royal Census is Underway!

LONDON (AP) — Scarlet uniforms flashed against the riverbank. Wooden skiffs glided in formation. A young swan, gently lifted from the water, was measured, inspected and released.

The annual five-day census of swans belonging to King Charles III, known as Swan Upping, commenced Monday on the River Thames to assess the health of these majestic birds.

Among the British monarch’s lesser-known titles is Seigneur of the Swans — Lord of the Swans. According to ancient lore, this title grants the monarch ownership of all mute swans found in Britain’s open waters.

Each year, a team of carefully selected oarsmen, dubbed Swan Uppers, patrols a stretch of the Thames in search of swans.

Upon spotting a family of swans, they cry out, “All up!” The boats swiftly encircle the birds, marking them and checking for any signs of disease or injury.

“This gives us insight into what’s happening across the country,” explained David Barber, who sports a scarlet jacket and a white swan feather in his cap as the King’s Swan Marker. “While it’s steeped in tradition, I believe it serves a crucial purpose as well.”

Barber has been at the helm of this event for over three decades. He’s joined by a veterinarian and oarsmen dressed in three distinct colors: red representing the king, white for the Worshipful Company of Vintners, and blue stripes for the Worshipful Company of Dyers. The latter two are medieval London trade guilds that were granted ownership of some Thames swans in the 15th century.

This census tradition traces its roots back to the 12th century when swans were considered a prized delicacy for royal banquets and feasts.

Although swans are now legally protected from hunting, Barber pointed out that they face a host of threats including disease, pollution, vandalism, and cruelty.

“We’ve seen a decline in their numbers over the past two years,” Barber noted, “primarily due to avian flu outbreaks across Britain.” He added that last year’s Swan Upping count revealed only 86 young swans, a stark 45 percent decrease from the previous year.

Despite these challenges, Barber expressed cautious optimism at the end of the event’s first day, with a tally of 16 young swans recorded.

The census will continue until Friday, covering a route from Sunbury, on the outskirts of London, to Abingdon, 130 kilometers upstream.