TENGOAL | Traditions


B


ritain in particular is awash with some of the most peculiar rules and privileges. The authorities still go to great lengths to uphold


these particular traditions no matter how bizarre and which certainly give an alternative definition to what constitutes a “Royal Peculiar”. These are manifested in the many royal prerogatives, although some are no longer adhered to, relevant or enforced. To the unwitting tourist they must seem both extreme yet endearing in their quirky Britishness. Head to Henley in the third week of July


and watch swan upping. This is when the cygnets are about a month old and are deemed old enough to be handled. Many swans make their nests in the upper Thames and are strictly the property of the Crown and the Vintners’ Companies of the City of London. The Royal Swanherd – yes there is such a person – comes from Southwark to round up the cygnets to cut distinguishing marks on their bills. Swans have been royal birds since 1186 and are the only kind of bird that can be “estray”. That is if they are found on common land or open water, they belong to the Crown as a prerogative right. Don’t do the “bird royal” harm. Strict


medieval laws were backed up with harsh punishments for those who did,


including imprisonment for a year and a day for stealing a swan’s egg. If


you were caught killing


one, the swan was hung by the beak with its feet just touching the floor and the criminal had to pour out sufficient wheat


to


submerge its head until the beak disappeared from sight, costing a small fortune. Nowadays killing or injuring a swan carries a £5,000 fine or six months in jail. Stealing a swan’s egg is also an offence and carries the same, maximum penalty. If you were ever to stumble upon


a dead whale at low tide, don’t take it home with you. This is because the Royal Prerogative 1324 (officially called the Prerogativa Regis), states the head of any dead whale or sturgeon found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King (if there is one) and the tail belongs to the Queen. This dates back to Edward II and the reasoning was to “furnish the Queen’s wardrobe with whalebone” and fashion new royal corsets. In 1970 the Queen gave up her right to captured whales! Keep your pets away from the royal


corgis. Inside the Royal Household, as a result of a law passed by George 1 in


If you believe in


fairies leave them well alone. In the 13th century, Henry lll


signed a law decreeing the death penalty


for anyone found killing, wounding or maiming fairies


the early 18th Century “the severest penalties will be suffered by any commoner who doth


permit his animal to have carnal knowledge of a pet of the Royal House". Although, perhaps they are


allowed to run free in the New Forest, the prize for a dog if it is small enough to pass through the stirrup reputedly once owned by King William Rufus (1087-1100) and now kept by the Court. The Queen has recently stopped


wearing real fur but, as early as 1137 Edward lll passed a law banning anyone, including the Royal family itself and men of the Church, from wearing fur. If you believe in fairies leave them well


alone. In the 13th Century, Henry lll signed a law decreeing the death penalty for anyone found killing, wounding or maiming fairies. Don’t tread on eggshells. Thanks to


Henry Vlll’s son Edward V1, anyone found breaking a boiled egg at the sharp end could be sentenced to 24 hours in the village stocks! Meanwhile, Elizabeth l passed a law


banning any woman from leading a man into marriage through the use of


false


hair, make-up, false hips, high-heeled shoes or other such devices. If convicted, she was to be punished with the same penalties as witchcraft. At the Tower of London, there is a


If you were ever to stumble upon a dead whale at low tide, don’t take it home with you... the head of any dead whale or sturgeon found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King (if there is one) and the tail belongs to the Queen


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number of bizarre rituals and prerogatives. A 17th century decree by Charles II stipulates that six ravens must be kept there at all times. It is a superstition, with the birds acting as insurance. Were they to leave, it was felt that both the Tower and the Kingdom would fall.


In truth


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