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The process sees three teams — one representing the Queen and the others representing the old trade associations of the Vintners and Dyers — patrol the River Thames in south England over five days to capture, tag and release mute swans.
In February, roughly 20 swans from the Queen’s Windsor flock were said to have died from bird flu. In contrast, it is thought that a significant number of new cygnets were counted on the opening day of the week-long census, which takes place during the third week of July.
Swan upping dates back to the 12th century, which was when the English crown first claimed ownership of all mute swans. At the time, the birds were considered as a delicacy that would be served at royal banquets.
However, they are now protected by law and Britons no longer eat them.
Last year’s count reversed a decline in previous censuses and recorded 132 new cygnets on the River Thames.
David Barber, the Queen’s Swan Marker, wore a gold-embroidered ceremonial blazer as he led his team, while they carried out their count of new cygnets.
Mr Barber said: “The law states that the Queen can own any swan swimming in open waters if she so wishes, but she mainly exercises that right on the River Thames.”
He added: “Today swan upping is about conservation and education.”
During the census cygnets and swans are checked to ensure that they are healthy. They are also weighed and measured, so that there is a record of their growth rate each year.
The Queen owns all of the mute swans in open water in both England and Wales, with the law being enacted in medieval times.
Every year local school children are invited to watch the annual swan upping procession as it takes place.
The Royal Family’s website explains: “The swans are also given a health check and ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen’s Swan Warden. The swans are then set free again.”
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