Annual swan count begins on River Thames

The 800-year-old tradition of “Swan Upping”, that involves the census of the royal swan population on stretches of the River Thames, has begun for 2026.

The centuries-old practice involves tallying all the swans owned by Britain’s King Charles by a team of ‘swan uppers’.

While the ceremony initially began in the 12th century to hunt down swans for banquets and feasts, the practice is now all about education and conservation. #swancount #swans #riverthames #london #uk