The Annual Swan Upping Ceremony at Henley upon Thames. This is the ancient annual Census of the Queens Swans on the Thames.


Swan Upping is an English Ceremony dating back to the 12th Century and happens during the third week of July each year. Swan Upping is a census of the mute Swans on the River Thames. The Queen owns all of the mute Swans in England but only asserts her right to them on the River Thames. During the Census the Queens Swan Marker and the Swan Uppers row up the Thames from Windsor and tag all of the mute journey takes five days and and finishes in Abingdon. When a Cygnet is found it is weighed and measured and then released. The data from the five day journey up the Thames is then compiled into a report to assist with the conservation of the Swans.


Size: 5005px × 3350px
Location: Henley upon Thames
Photo credit: © Michael Winters / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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