Swan Upping

There is a very special royal tradition. On the River Thames there are hundreds of swans. Traditionally a lot of these beautiful white birds belong to the king or queen. In July the young swans on the Thames are about two months old. Then the Queen’s swan keeper goes, in a boat, from London Bridge to Henley. He looks at all the young swans and marks the royal ones. The name of this strange but interesting custom is Swan Upping.