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The Queen Continues To Waste British Taxpayer Money
Filed under: Anglophilia > Royals Royce
What a complete and utter waste of taxpayers' money.
Back in the 12th century, the royal family began a tradition known as Swan Upping, where all the swans on the River Thames were counted. Back then, it was to know how many birds they had to eat that year!
900 years later, if you are looking for some wings, you can just head to KFC, but her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, thinks that the tradition is still relevant. And so, it will be some guys' jobs to row up the Thames for five days and count, weigh, and measure swans and cygnets.
Talk about a shitty job!
They get a spiffy names, though- Swan Marker & Swan Warden.
Bet their moms are super proud!
This year, Queen Elizabeth has decided to join them for part of the census and visit a local school who is doing project on the subject of swans, cygnets and the Thames.
Guess there isn't much for the Queen to be doing these days if she has time for this crap!
[Image via WENN.]
Yes but it's British tradition and they like to keep them up over there. Lay off. What do you know…you have no class anyway so really can't comment on something like this.
who cares the queen is fucking stupid!!
i could so see perez wearing that outfit, would match his black eye…
Why is it a waste of taxpayers' money? I live and pay taxes in the UK and I am happy that part of my taxes contribute to protect animals.
Invading Iraq, now THAT was a waste of taxpayers' money!
I'm glad this stuff still goes on - it's one of the few remaining things that keeps England England and not a united states of everywhere else. I used to be proud to be English (well Scottish really) but now I feel like we are just a big welfare state for the benefit of everyone else. I think we need to keep as many traditions as possible, even if other countries don't understand them and I am glad that the mute swan in the UK is protected as every one of them belong to Queen! Rant over.
its called tradition and history something you clearly know nothing about. and why are you so concerned with our taxes, wanker!
The swan is the Royal bird. Its a crime to kill one and can be punishable by fines and prison. Its not a waste of money, they are a protected animal and the fact that she is visiting schools will be a treat to the children. Your not English so don't slag our Queen off. God save The Queen
As stupid as it is. It's also done for scientific purposes.
Keeping an eye on the black swan.
LOOK IT UP PEREZ!
its called a tradition, you know history. something you know nothing about about. its also to see how the birds are doing and monitor their health. why are you so bothered about our taxes anyway wanker
What is it to you what our Queeen spends our tax money on? we paid a lot more to bail out the banks than to count swans. all these silly ceremonies are part of the money making royal machine! (And I would rather have our history & traditions than Cuba's!)
Leave our queen alone, you sour heritage-challenged simpleton.
Are you brain-dead???! It s a TRADITION! Brits LOVE wild birds! As do Germany!
Dumb American idiots!Everything that s not MAKING money is thought to be "superfluous" and unnecessary for you!!
I m glas there are people around who STILL love feathery animals like these beautiful swans!
We in Hamburg, Germany, by the way also hatch the swans and bring them to a shelter for the winter EVERY YEAR by boat so they ll survive it! The tax payers pay it GLADLY!
Re: bad Kitty – couldnt agree more.
PS - don't forget that she isn't a youngster anymore - good for her that she still does do royal visits, you wouldn't expect any other pensioner to work like that would you!
Re: Regina – totally right on! i'm sure this tradition is now serving some animal-protecting purpose.
Obama is right behind her! Just wait and watch. Soon, your money will be taken away through taxes in the U.S. (just like in the U.K.) for dumb ass stuff too!
you guys are so mean to perez. lay off.
Re: Regina –
Regiona, I fully agree!
Some people, especially in America, do not seem to know WHERE and for WHAT the taxpayers' money REALLY is wasted on!
Quote: "…Invading Iraq, now THAT was a waste of taxpayers' money! …"
I LOVE the swans! We have many in Munich around Nymphenburg castle….
And you continue to waste oxygen.
It's not your business. I know you like to think you are British, but you are not.
I loathe the Royal Family and think they are overpriviliged inbred twats. BUT I adore history and tradition and the protection of wildlife. I'm happy to contribute to the monitoring of the swans but the contribution to the royals. They're leeches. £250k to refurbish Beatrice's royal apartment? Are you fucking kidding me? Leeches.
lol…as if YOU, of all nations, knew ANYTHING about Britain or Europe and WHY they continue with such traditions!
By they way: HOW MUCH money did American taxpayers meantime spend on the Afghanistan and war and their attack on Iraq? Billions? Trillions? LOL….
the royal family is pointless.
This site has always been a guilty pleasure, emphasis on GUILTY, but recently your comments have been more and more ignorant, uninformed and biased and your cultural sensitivity is absent. You shouldn't judge things you know nothing about. This is just one of many posts where you should have been more objective. Same as bashing Gwyneth Paltrow for appreciating Spanish culture, which IS ancient and beautiful and does not detract from America (if you looked at what she said, it was that the US is lacking a long history, and that it's more fast paced and plugged in–which is obviously true and not necessarily bad). Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you get to interpret their actions however you want. You're ragging on the Queen for upholding a 12th century tradition? That's ridiculous.
like it concerns you! it's a british tradition and has purpose, why are you even bothered?
It's tradition like this that makes US the greatest nation in the world!
What the fuck would some FAT American know about our culture!?
stop being a twat an look at your own crappy country before you start slagging off our queen she does so much for our country and people im happy i pay her 69p a year! just cos your the biggest queen in america doesnt mean you can bitch about other country queen you dick, we love her leave her alone! it like taking the mick out of someone grandmar its just not done
It is actually a good iniciative to control those species. If the Queen didn't do it as a tradition, some enviromental researchers would.
I want that job!
.
Seriously, though, it is good to know how the bird populations are maintaining. It is a marker of how healthy our planet is or isn't.
tradition huh? collecting welfare seems to be an american tradition, i think i'll go sign up monday. dumb asses.
Re: allinthename – 9 Exactly! The ignorance amazes me.
Our Queen, our traditions, our history, our money. Bugger off.
how do they get a way with this? I have yet to know what the Royal family does?????
The part everybody forgets about is the amount of tourism the Royals bring into the United Kingdom. If they didn't have the Royal Family and the circus that comes with it how many jobs and tourism dollars would be lost? I think this is a small price to pay in the bigger picture of things!
Tradition and History must be kept alive, not that Americans would know anything about that - the country is too damn young!
its called a traditional, perez. don't try to make news there is none.
She's hella old, what else do you expect her to be interested in perez?? And its not a "waste" if they're upholding tradition unlike the USA when they're "running short of funds for their war" they cut small town celebration parade funds in half.
well yeah, there's never been ANYTHING for the queen to do. she just sits there. and does nothing. ever. the only power she has is to overrule the prime minister and she doesnt do that because…come on. look at the history of Britain's monarchs. maybe once in a while they've done something good for england.
you really are burning all your bridges aren't you….. you saw the vast majority of replies against you on your last Queen post here yet you continue to stoke the fires by being a condescending douche. you go on about how much you love your times in London…. yeah, well - let's see next time you're over here how much you'll enjoy it!
omg. i totally don't agree. actually i have no view on this point.
btw it was my friend on this acc that just said what "i" said, idrc abt this.
So fucking what? I live in Ottawa Canada and we have protected swans on our waterways all summer, taken care of in the same way. They are beautiful birds to see swimming in our Canal and river.
So creating jobs for people is a waste of money?
What fucking world do you live in where you (NOBODY) can comment on what is happening in a country TOTALLY different to yours and bloody miles away.
Im glad England isnt like America and has its unique quirks.
Every country has them. Like America has a lot of fat people, we have a monarch.
Its all the same I guess.
i'm glad to see so many fellow Brits standing up for Animal conservation and Tradition.
Americans have no sense of tradition or history - quite sad really.
STFU, you're not even British, so what does it have anything to do with you?
And why would the Queen deign to consider the ramblings of a fat poofster from the colonies who thinks tradition is showing boobs for beads at mardi gras? You are pathetic.
LMAO….look at all the uptight Brits with their panties in a wad. It's his website and his opinion. If you don't like it….don't come back.
American's can't appreciate tradition since we don't have any.
Re: BleachedPink – Wow ! I hope you're wrong about that !
Seriously, it's not a waste of money if the British people like swans, and who doesn't like swans ?
The U.S. has wasted so much money entire states are going bankrupt ex. California
Read a book sometime Mario. It's a centuries old tradition with a great history. It employees people and helps to conserve the populations. Would rather pay for that than for the Obamas to go to dinner in NYC and I like the Obamas.
Still a racist, sexist, disrespectful and ignorant prick after the public ass-whuppin' and backlash? Still trying to get everyone steamed about something about which you know NOTHING, nada, zip? The mark of a true cretin - the mother of a Swan Warden has much more to be proud of than the mother of a despicable bottom-feeder like yourself. If the Cuban government was using money for such a project, you would hail it as the most important.undertaking.in.all.the.world.EVER. Good for the Brits for preserving history and tradition and doing an environmental service at the same time and good for the Queen for getting out and about instead of resting on her laurels. Sorry you can only condemn it because it doesn't directly benefit you or your stupid special interests.
Its got bugger all to do with you!! You wanted freedom from Great Britain so keep your bloody noses out of our business and traditions!!!
It's not up to some American z-list blogger to tell England how to spend their tax money. Fuck off and keep your nose out of other country's business, especially something as harmless as this. You're only making everyone hate you even more.
It's called TRADITIONS you dumbass!
All the British visitors to this website will be freaking out, calling Perez a knob and a buggar and tell him to "shut his bloody trap" while their teeth rot from lack of dental hygeine, not going to the dentist for 10 years and too much black tea.
Narcissistic b * t * h !
IF there is ONE starving child on this planet; it is immoral to be so gluttonous.
I think it's a great way to spend money. She's providing jobs for people and keeping a close eye on the local wildlife. Back off… you're WAY outta your league here.
Don't mind the Queen's business.
What's the point of Thanksgiving? Christmas? Birthdays? what's the point of exchanging wedding rings? wearing black to a funeral?
Tradition….. love or hate.
Then there's bullfighting, wasting tons of tomatoes in the streets, African traditions involving machetes and the pointing of teeth…..
The swan counting seems quite relevant and harmless. After all it is a protected species and numbers should still be monitored, even though nobody eats swan any more in England.
you don't live here.. swans are a wonderful part of local nature and add a lot our lives. It's so nice to walk along the canals and see them. it's important to keep up with their numbers to make sure they are breeding and that they aren't being killed for food (which some people do)…it's not a waste of money, They are a vital part of the wildlife here and as a taxpayer, I am happy to pay to make sure they continue to grace my life.
what the fuck does it matter what the queen of england does perez. do you pay taxes in england lard ass? as for as keeping track of wild life , i have heard of worse ideas
I really hope SHE doesn't let you into HER country next time you want to peddle some shit in the UK….
I like how my fact based comments don't appear
First off… This jerk does not speak for all Americans….Seriously… as an American I am EXTREMELY envious of European culture and traditions… Americans do not understand what traditions really are. We waste so much of our tax money on the stupidest things… don't even get me started on the war.
Some one needs to hook her up with K-Fed. They would make a great pair. STAND ON YOU OWN TOO FEETS, QUEEN!!!!!
It's called tradition, Perez. Damn, you may be dimmer that Joe Jackson
honestly, you have a gossip website. you just bash celebrities and ruin their privacy. you should NOT be bashing the fucking queen of england. who do you think you are? you don't live there and you obviously don't care about the traditions so what does it matter to you? i actually find this post really offensive and ignorant.
"Bet their moms are super proud!"
Since when do you have the right to judge another person's career? Would you tell a garbage man or a street sweeper "OH…you're mom must be proud!" And what does your mom think about you? Why should she be proud of you? Proud that her son was finally punched in the face so he can learn a lesson or two? Perez, I have been an avid…and I mean AVID reader for the past few years. Your site is listed as a favorite, but I can't stand to be here anymore. I've gone from loving you and thinking you were hilarious to wanting to punch the other side of your face. When you find a soul, I'll consider returning. For now, Eonline it is!
She's the freagn' Queen and can do whatever she wants!
HOW OLD IS THIE B-ROD…SHES A REPTILIAN!!
DIE ALREADY
Re: BleachedPink – YESSSSS THANK YOU. IM GLAD MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE!
What the hell do you care, Perez? You don't live there and you don't pay the taxes. So don't worry about it. Let the Brits do what they want. You are just one jealous Queen.
Do you have any idea how much income the British Monarchy generate for the U.K? The taxpayer now on average pay 37m per year to subsidise the monarchy and the monarchy generate approx 170m a year to the treasury, do the math you idiot.
If the Queen wants to 'have time for crap' like visiting children in schools to promote the importance of wildlife conservation and our rich cultural history, good for her. I presume that a mother would also be prouder of a university educated conservation expert who works for the Queen than a barely literate sycophant who writes trash.
Hey to all the British people telling Perez to mind his own business about Britain, why the FUCK are you on an American site reading about mostly Americans then? Idiots!
Re: MarioSwallows – Yet you're still on his website, go figure!
Seriously Perez, what is with the Queen bashing at the moment?
I'll say this first (politely) YOU AREN'T A BRITISH TAXPAYER
and then this is the unpolite version "FUCK OFF YOU ILL EDUCATED TOSSER"
Tradition is a huge part of English heritage and the Her Majesty brings in huge huge HUGE amounts of tourism which help keep Englang afloat
So seriously, FUCK OFF. You have no right to bash my Queen this way.
And to the ignorant gentleman making the comment of 'why are you on his site then', because an American friend of mine informed me of the Royal Bashing and I wanted to give this idiotic Yank a piece of my mind.
in case you didn't know as you aren't British swans are actually the queen's property and it is an offence to hurt a swan, hence the tradition.
Being British I also must add that although the royal family may be wasting our money, they bring in a hell of a lot of money to the country via tourism etc. No need to snipe when this story means absolutely nothing to the country that it is being typed from.
Re: Mad Cow –
Learn to spell.
And again, The Queen generates huge amount of revenue for the United Kingdom through tourism and by promoting England's extensive history and traditions.
Although you probably won't be able to understand this comment, as it is correctly spelt.
Re: Tiburon – Because American celebrities interest people worldwide, and this site actually has loads of stuff on British celebrities I was pleased to find when my friend introduced me to it.
I just don't see how this is celebrity gossip?
back the tuck off!! the queen of england is way better than your ucking lier of a president.
i'm proud to have a traditional royal family!
so back up
Just because America destroyed all of its heritage doesn't mean we should do the same.
It's actually so the Queen knows how many swans belong to her. The Queen has a very busy schedule which given that she is a pensioner is quite impressive.
It's not like this is recent news or anything is it?
this is one of many reasons why the british are way better than us fat ugly lazy americans.
what england has is tradition, culture, honor. these are things the fat ugly diabetic selfish greedy americans lack. completely lack. we have no culture here, no tradition. we are a bunch of assholes who cant hack it in their own country and culture and come here and ruin everything with our waste.
american is a joke and i would love to move to england, but they dont let every piece of shit immigrate there. they have laws and rules about it.
america sucks balls. maybe if the american tradition was class and culture instead of cramming our ideas and laws onto other people.
america sucks, especially when a fat ugly cuban baby whines about another country's culture. what a waste of space you are perez. what do you know about culture? besides your knowledge of beans, rice and pork you stupid fuck.
Side note after my previous comment:
I'm an American and agree that we don't understand what it's like to have ancient national traditions, but that doesn't mean that we can't appreciate that other nations do. Don't lump us all in together, we're all individuals, just like you are. Perez Hilton doesn't speak for all Americans, I hope that's obvious.
she's seriously the ugliest bitch i've ever seen. the british royals need to stop inbreeding.
Seriously dude, you think you would have learned your lesson about running your mouth. Maybe someone needs to blacken that other eye for you.
It's tradition man, and the Brits are mighty proud of their heritage
Re: crackerjackbitch – someone obviously craves attention..
This is far from a waste this is our culture. Like eating is part of your culture. I would gladdy continue paying taxes for this to happen!!
Re: Duckie – i agree very much so. Just some americans i say some do not understand that just becuase UK and america speak the same language means were the same. Far from UK is a european country and we like all people in europe are proud of our traditions and way of life!!
Back off on critizing this Babe. The Tourism ROI is still a bargain.
What the hell do you know about what's important in British culture? You waste much more money in the US than we do.
Bloody stoopid Americans; you're jealous ’cause your heritage is less than 3 minutes old!
I don't understand how "It's tradition" is a valid argument . Just because it has happened for a long time, doesn't guarantee that it is still relevant today. Swan populations can still be monitored by outside groups. I can't see any major function he royal family fulfil in the government they're still technically head of. Instead, all they do is continue the idea that some are above others due to birth,and yet tourists seem to love this so they're kept happy.
I am British and would love nothing more than to see the royal family abolished, as do the majority of the people i know.
I am British and have mixed feelings about the Royal Family. Whilst I'm certainly not a Royalist, I must admit they do serve a purpose and bring a lot of tourism to our beautiful country. However, I am not sure that they are worth the amount that they are paid from our taxes. But Swan Upping is part of our history and tradition and these things set Britain apart from countries with no real culture or traditions…
Also, the Queen is over 80 years old and I don't know how many elderly people you know that still work full time.
Re: Tiburon – Lame comment. Go buy one of fatboys's t-shirts douchebag.
I'm British and I for one think the entire Royal family are ridiculous. This is just another reason why they should be gone. Useless, money grabbing idiots.
Sod off Perez you gobshite!!! You're just jealous coz she's a real Queen and you can only aspire to be one!! I'm sure your country has some tradtions dating back to the 12th century they'd like to retain….. What's that? Oh yeah, your country didn't even exist back then! Rule Britannia!!!
First of all, since WHEN is the Queen a 'celebrity' who deserves any slagging on your 'lets bitch out all of hollywood' website? Secondly, this is a 900 year old tradition. If she stopped it from happening people would freak out. What do you Americans have that equates to something quite like this? She's counting protected birds and you consider that a waste of money? This isn't just any regular bird, the swan is the national bird and has been since the 1100's. Get your head outta your ass, get an education, and start understanding history and historical practices a little better.
Perez, my sincerest thanks to you for continuing to make America look like a nation of ignorant assholes. It's one thing to make fun of coked-out celebrities who flash their privates to the paparazzi. It's another thing to rip on the Queen of England for upholding a centuries-old tradition. Are you a British citizen? No, so who are you to define what a waste of British taxpayer's money is? Your posts lately have been ridiculous, each one more ignorant and disrespectful than the last. As an American citizen, I would never have read a news article on this and had any thought other than: "Oh, that's a nice tradition." Why do you always have to be so cruel and act as if what YOU do is so much better than everyone else? You sit in your bathrobe and doodle on the faces of celebrities all day and then you turn around and suck up to these same people every chance you get- super important job there Perez!
One last thing- I may be only twenty years old and still have much to learn about this world, but it certainly doesn't take a genius to know that you don't insult the Queen of England when much of your audience is British. You just don't. Good luck during your next visit to London- who knows, maybe you'll come back with a black eye to match the one you got over here!
umm it's actually an admired thing by British people that such things are kept up, they are nice to see as a rememberance of culture. the queen visiting people is also good too as it makes her much more normal to the average person.
also perez THE QUEEN pays TAXES. learn your british law before slating it. yet another piece of crap to come up on your page.
Since all Perezes posts barely get a handful of replies these days, he does what he always does: post some hogwash about others city, state or country to get desperate hits. As if you know, Perez. YOU DONT LIVE THERE, YOU'RE NOT BRITISH, YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN OF THEIR COUNTRY. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT ANYWAY? NOTHING, AS ALWAYS. Typical.
The only Americans worried about what the Queen of England does? Is Perez. He'll do anything for website hits. He has to. He got his ass beat, whined like a baby, filed some spineless lawsuit that not even gay-rights charities want a part of if it's got the Perez name attached to it, called Michael Jacksons death a selfish hoax, and now tries to stir garbage between sister countries - desperate for responses. Well, you got them you mornic desperate fool.
you know whats sick?? the american government invading countries because they don't like the way it is there and bullying other countries to join them!!!! why don't you talk more about that and care less about other countries are doing!!