Swan Upping With The Queen’s Swan Marker David Barber MVO, And Swan Uppers From The Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies

The Royal Swan Uppers, lead by David Barber MVO, The Queen’s Swan Marker, wearing the scarlet uniform of Her Majesty The Queen, travel in traditional rowing skiffs together with Swan Uppers from the Vintners’ and Dyers’ livery companies as they take part in Swan Upping, July 2021 between Sonning Lock and Mapledurham Lock on the River Thames, England. Swan upping takes place once a year in July on the River Thames. The Swan Uppers weigh and measure the cygnets and check them for any signs of injury, commonly caused by fishing hooks and line. The young cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers that denote their ownership if they belong to the Vintners or the Dyers livery companies; the cygnets’ ownership is determined by their parentage. (Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)