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.]

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It seems that the Queen's spending has become too big for her publicly supported britches!

Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family cost British taxpayers $1.14 each last year!

Not too bad until you realize the the cost of the family totaled to $68.6 million this year, which increased by $2.48 million from the previous year.

Public funds are used to pay travel expenses, along with the operation and staffing of homes in the royal family, including Buckingham Palace.

Travel costs rose this year as royal family needed to charter commercial aircraft for overseas visits.

We're sure they don't travel light either!!!!

The Queen visited Slovenia and Slovakia last year, while Prince Charles toured countries including Japan and Indonesia.

Also, it cost $661,302 to relaunch the royal family's Web site along with hiring a staff to run it!

We wonder how much the Queen checks the royal email?!

"Very obviously they have no regard for public finances at all. There's no reason why the queen can't be paid a salary and a few million be spent on the staff," said Graham Smith, campaign manager for Republic, an anti-monarchy group.

The accounts showed that cleaning royal homes cost $496,000, food bills ran to $827,209 and garden parties cost a total of $661,302.

Elizabeth receives $13.09 million of public money each year to pay for basics, but she used an extra $9.9 million from a reserve fund.

The Queen will negotiate her budget again in 2010, but if she continues to use money from her reserve fund at the current rate, she'll run out of funds by 2012!

If the people are on a budget, so should the monarch!

[Image via WENN/Photo Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection.]

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It's Prince William's birthday!

The second in line to the British throne turns 27 today. And, in celebration of his natal feast day, CLICK HERE for a great pHOto gallery of the royal.

[Image via WENN.]

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Prince Charles' wife, Camila The Duchess of Cornwall, took a trip to Ashwick to tour the Exmoor Pony Centre and visit with the staff, supporters, and volunteers, on Tuesday.

The lovely Camilla even took some time to pose with her sister for a photo.

The resemblance is uncanny!

We're just grateful Camilla and Charles are too old to have children.

Could you imagine what their kids would look like?!?

[Image via Abaca USA.]

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The Queen is probably pleased as punch this blonde got the royal boot!

Chelsea Davy, ex-girlfriend of Prince Harry, was seen Thursday night standing outside Raffles Club in London. She took the time to talk to some skeevy guy outside while she sucked on a cancer stick and finally took her sorry ass home at 2 AM.

Is she trying to keep her hair out of her face so she doesn't get any vomit on it when she pukes in the cab?

BTW, Chelsea, give Lindsay Lohan a call. She is in town and we bet you two would have an awesome time together.

Kindred souls, we think!

[Image via Ramey Pix.]

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Check out (above) Prince Harry's appearance on the Today show this morning!

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Prince Harry took a time out for a potty break during the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on Governors Island, NY, this weekend and had no problem using a port-a-potty.

Royals!

They're just like us!

[Image via Pacific Coast News Online.]

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Madonna spent her Saturday with the fam at the 2nd Annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic to see Prince Harry play a few rounds.

Her Madgesty brought sons David Banda and Rocco to the game on Governers Island in New York and schmoozed the day away with designer Marc Jacobs.

Fun!

[Photo via Getty Images.]

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Prince Harry is in the midst of his first formal visit to the States!

The ginger Prince arrived to Manhattan on Friday and participated in the official naming of the British Gardens at Hanover Square in NYC.

We wish he'd make a stop in LA!

Don't be a stranger!

[Image via WENN.]

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