Warden of the Swans and Marker of the Swans
Did you know the queen actually owns all unmarked swans on open water in England? A traditional event called the Swan Upping takes place each July, with the purpose of counting all of the swans in the Thames and accounting for their health in order to preserve conservation efforts. The Warden and Marker lead the event every year, and release a report documenting the observed health of the swan populations.
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Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
That’s right – Prince Charles has his own personal harpist. Anne Denholm, who currently holds the position, often performs at royal events. Previous harpists have even performed at Prince Charles’ wedding.
Royal Shoe-Wearer
Not many of us get to step into the shoes of royalty. But at over 90 years old and still attending daily events dressed impeccably, it might really be a necessity for the queen to have someone break her shoes in for her before she wears them. It’s not known who exactly does this job, but it is definitely one of the more peculiar duties at Buckingham Palace. Much more than the queen’s comfort is at stake – as she ages, it’s essential that she not appear weak or too old, so having to step out of an event because of painful or tired feet would be a big problem.
