Why are all the swans in the UK owned by the Queen?

Ask a local in a British pub about swans and you might well be told that the Queen owns all the swans in the country and that only she is allowed to eat them. This popular misconception, often repeated as common knowledge in the U.K. read more

Queens Swan Markers pass swans during the annual count of the Queen's swans on the river Thames on July 20, 2015. (Photo: Frank Augstein, AP) Even for someone with a very high tolerance of ceremonial events, the swan upping is a task Her Majesty is comfortable delegating. read more

There are some historical quirks of this, one of which is that the Monarch owns all wild swans living in open water - of the species called 'mute' swans. Other species of swans, and those owned by individuals are not owned by Her Majesty. read more