Keeper of the Queen's Swans


The Keeper of the King's/Queen's Swans was a late medieval-founded office in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of England, later Great Britain and ultimately the United Kingdom. He was earlier called the King's/Queen's Swanmaster. The office was replaced by two separate roles in 1993 for the annual Swan-Upping marking and health-checking carried out using Thames skiffs on many of the non-tidal reaches of the River Thames in latter years from Sunbury-on-Thames passing Windsor, Berkshire to Henley on Thames.

History

The keeper's office dates from the 13th century. He was supported by three swanherdsmen. The principal duties of this official team of four people were to conduct the annual Swan-Upping on much of non-tidal reaches of the River Thames including Windsor.
It was abolished in 1993, when it was replaced by two new offices, the Warden of the Swans and the Marker of the Swans.

List of Keepers of the King's and Queen's Swans