The Annual Swan Upping Ceremony on the river Thames. This is the ancient annual Census of the King’s Swans on the Thames. 2023
Swan Upping is the annual census of the swan population on various stretches of the river Thames. This historic ceremony dates from the twelfth century, when the Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans.
It’s a joint venture between the King’s Swan Marker and the Swan Uppers of the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies. They use traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon leaving from Eton Bridge, Windsor.
The job of the Swan Uppers is to count the number of young cygnets each year and to ensure that the swan population is maintained. (2023)