Royal Prerogative: The Strange and Real Rules of the Monarch

[cinrit]

As the annual swan upping ceremony begins we look at some of the monarch's other special rules and privileges.

Starting today, the weeklong schedule of "swan upping" takes place. Many swans make their nests in the upper Thames and are the property of the Crown and the Vintners' Companies of the City of London. Each summer watermen round up the cygnets and cut distinguishing marks on their bills.

The Royal swanherd (the dyers and vintners are the only other owners of swans) travels from Southwark to Henley identifying and marking the swans that have been royal birds since 1186 and the only kind of bird that can be "estray". That means if they are found on common land or open water they belong to the crown as a prerogative right.

Swan upping always takes place during the third week of July when cygnets are about a month old and are then deemed old enough to be handled by humans.

Strict medieval laws were backed up with harsh punishments for those who did the "bird royal" harm. These included imprisonment for a year and a day for stealing a swan's egg. If anyone was caught killing one the swan was hung by the beak with its feet just touching the floor. Then the criminal had to pour out sufficient wheat to submerge its head until the beak disappeared from sight, costing a small fortune.

More: Royal prerogative: The strange and real rules of the monarch | Express Comment | Comment | Daily Express

Cindy

[TLLK]

Truly one of the more unusual practices but I really like this tradition.