The Queen’s Swan Uppers, along with the Vinters’ and Dyers’ livery companies rowed from Eton bridge this morning in a ceremony that goes back to medieval times. The Queen’s Swan Marker in traditional scarlet livery moved upriver at 9.00am marking new swans with a ring.
Swan Upping takes place in the third week of July and has been going for over 700 years.
Photos from the annual Swan Upping at Windsor.
Click photo to enlarge
This annual census of the swan population on the River Thames is an important tool for wildlife conservation, although in earlier times its purpose was to claim ownership of these birds as a food source.
