This is the perfect time of year to learn about the famous ravens that are sacred at the Tower of London, which, by the way, was the place you would get locked up in before having your head chopped off or some other delightful form of public execution(like being drawn and quartered!) for committing an offense to the crown. Unless you were one of King Henry the Eighth's wives, in which case you got your head chopped off because his libido desired a different wife. This did not stop him from violating the chamber maids . That was just a side hobby. But, when he tired of his Queen, she was executed because divorce was not allowed. He could not offend the laws of the Holy Church of England. Later, as his syphilis got worse and caused his insanity to flourish, he tired more rapidly of his wives. Funny thing that the biggest philanderer and lecher would be replaced by Queen Elizabeth I, his daughter, who is touted as the Virgin Queen. She was imprisoned in the Tower for two months herself before her reign.
A side note: Both King Henry =VIII and Elizabeth I are arguably the two most talked about, infamous and iconinized monarchs of the throne.
This article is from last year when the birds had to be quarantined indoors due to the Avian Flu.
English legend says that a terrible evil will befall the kingdom if the Tower of London loses its ravens, which have lived at the landmark for more than 300 years.
"The legend goes back to the early part of Charles II's reign," said the Tower's raven master, Derrick Coyle, who looks after the birds.
King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685, decreed that at least six ravens should always be kept at the 11th-century fortress that sits on the River Thames.
The Tower, one of Europe's top tourist attractions, also houses the Crown Jewels.
Coyle, 61, says the ravens have been confined for both their own safety and that of the nation.
The Tower's current resident ravens—Baldrick, Branwen, Gwyllum, Hugine, Munin, and Thor—are usually seen strutting about the Tower's green where they are popular with sightseers.
"A lot of visitors are asking where the ravens are, but when we explain the reason why they've been put away, they completely understand," the raven master said.
The birds, whose wings are clipped to prevent them flying away, have been moved to aviaries in one of the royal palace's towers.
"They're being kept in a big airy room with lots of light and fresh air. They're doing very well in there," Coyle said.
