📅This fact may be outdated
The fact says 'Queen' but Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022. The monarch is now King Charles III. Also, the claim is oversimplified - the Crown owns unmarked mute swans in open waters (primarily on the Thames), not literally all swans in England. Two London livery companies share ownership rights.
All the swans in England are property of the Queen.
Do All Swans in England Belong to the Monarchy?
The claim that all swans in England belong to the monarch isn't quite accurate, but the truth is almost as fascinating. King Charles III holds the right to claim ownership of any unmarked mute swan swimming in open waters throughout England and Wales—a peculiar privilege dating back to medieval times when swans were a luxury food reserved for the mega-wealthy.
This isn't just ceremonial fluff. Every July, the annual Swan Upping ceremony takes place on the River Thames, where the King's Swan Marker and teams from two historic livery companies row upstream in traditional skiffs to count, weigh, and health-check the swan population. It's a five-day census that's been happening for centuries.
Why Swans Became Royal Property
In medieval England, swans were the ultimate status symbol at banquets and feasts. Their meat was considered a delicacy, and only the Crown and those granted special permission could own them. The birds were so valuable that swan theft was a serious crime. Over time, as swans fell out of fashion as food, the tradition evolved into conservation rather than consumption.
The monarch holds the title Seigneur of the Swans—Lord of the Swans. But here's where it gets interesting: the King doesn't actually own all swans. Only unmarked mute swans in open waters fall under Crown ownership, and even then, this right is primarily exercised on certain stretches of the Thames.
Sharing Swan Custody
Two London livery companies share swan ownership rights with the Crown:
- The Worshipful Company of Vintners (wine merchants)
- The Worshipful Company of Dyers (cloth dyers)
These guilds were granted ownership rights to Thames swans back in the 15th century, and they still participate in Swan Upping today. Swans belonging to these companies receive rings on one leg, while Crown swans get rings on the other—all linked to the British Trust for Ornithology database for tracking.
Modern Conservation Challenges
Swan Upping isn't just pageantry—it serves a real conservation purpose. During the 2024 ceremony, only 86 young swans were found, a 45% decline in just two years. Avian influenza has devastated breeding pairs, highlighting how this centuries-old tradition now helps monitor the health of wild swan populations.
So while not every swan in England belongs to the King, the Crown's claim to unmarked mute swans represents one of Britain's most enduring medieval traditions—one that's evolved from royal banquets to wildlife conservation.