Paying their dues: The naval tradition of bringing alcohol to the monarch

A weird and wonderful 14th-century naval tradition continues to be carried on by the British Armed Forces and sees members of the Royal Navy 'pay their dues' to the Crown.

Based on the tradition that every ship that came upstream in London had to moor at Tower Wharf to unload a portion of its cargo for the Constable of the Tower of London, members of the Royal Navy have continued to pay their toll to the monarch in a special parade.

On mooring, a Royal Navy vessel's captain will present the Constable with a barrel of wine, which will then be escorted into the Tower by the Yeoman Warders and presented to the Constable on Tower Green.

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Lord Houghton, the 160th Constable, believes it is a great reminder of the capital's diverse history.

He said: "The Constable was probably then amongst the most important men in the kingdom, to keep London under control, and how he could gain his living was through the order of the monarch for what was an act of piracy and of taking things from ships on the Thames."

The tradition dates back to the year 1078 when William the Conqueror appointed Geoffrey de Mandeville to be the Constable of the Tower of London.

Since this first appointment to the role, the position of Constable has remained highly prestigious.

Then the role included taking tolls from passing ships, and today the role includes performing the extravagant ceremony to honour the Constable's Dues.

In 2019, the tradition was brought back to life by the crew of HMS Enterprise when they carried the wine through London.

In 2024, the tradition was carried out by members of the Royal Marines, although this year the toll was paid in port.