Gun salutes for the Queen: 96-rounds for every year of her life
Gun salutes boom out in honour of the Queen: King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires 96-round Death Gun Salute – representing one round for every year of Her Majesty’s life
- The salutes were fired across the UK at 1pm to mark the death of the Queen
- One round was fired every 10 seconds for every year of the Queen’s life
- Salutes took place across London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, Gibraltar and more
- Gun salutes are customarily fired as a sign of respect or welcome
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
A spree of 96-round gun salutes were fired across the UK today to mark the death of the Queen.
The Death Gun Salute was fired at 1pm in London, around the UK and at saluting stations at home and abroad.
In London, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery gathered to fire the Death Gun Salute in Hyde Park, while at the same time the Death Gun Salute was fired at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).
A spree of 96-round gun salute were fired across the UK today to mark the death of the Queen (pictured – Tower of London)
The Death Gun Salute was fired at 1pm in London, around the UK and at saluting stations at home and abroad (pictured – Hyde Park)
One round was fired every 10 seconds, with 96 rounds representing one round for every year of the Queen’s life.
Gun salutes also took place in locations including Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Hillsborough Castle, York, Portsmouth and Gibraltar.
Mourners gathered and stood still as the sound of canons firing in nearby Hyde Park reverberated around the entrance to the Palace.
One round was fired every 10 seconds, with 96 rounds representing one round for every year of the Queen’s life (pictured – Edinburgh Castle)
The MoD said the tradition of gun salutes routinely being fired throughout the country to mark significant national events dates back centuries
Gun salutes also took place in locations including Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle (pictured), Hillsborough Castle, York, Portsmouth and Gibraltar
Some 71 horses will made their way into Hyde Park, of which 36 pulled six First World War-era 13-pounder Field Guns.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army mounted ceremonial unit that fires royal salutes on royal anniversaries and state occasions, such as state visits and royal birthdays.
The HAC dates its origins to 1537, making it the oldest regiment in the British Army.
It took over the role of firing gun salutes from the Tower of London in 1924.
Gun salutes are customarily fired, both on land and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome.
Some 71 horses will made their way into Hyde Park, of which 36 pulled six First World War-era 13-pounder Field Guns
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army mounted ceremonial unit that fires royal salutes on royal anniversaries and state occasions, such as state visits and royal birthdays
Mourners gathered across the country as the sound of canons firing in nearby Hyde Park reverberated around the entrance to the Palace
Similar gun salutes were fired to mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965
Nowadays gun salutes mark special occasions on certain days of the year, many of them with royal associations.
Gun salutes occur on royal anniversaries including Accession Day, the Queen’s birthday, Coronation Day, the Queen’s official birthday, the state opening of Parliament, royal births and when a visiting head of state meets the Queen in London, Windsor or Edinburgh.
The MoD said the tradition of gun salutes routinely being fired throughout the country to mark significant national events dates back centuries, and there are historical records of salutes taking place as early as the 14th century when guns and ammunition began to be adopted widely.
Similar gun salutes were fired to mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965.
The gun salute: How teams of horses pull guns before booming salutes to mark royal occasions – from births and deaths, to the opening of Parliament
On special days, Royal salutes are fired from various locations in London and across the UK. In London, salutes are fired from the Tower of London, and also either Hyde Park or Green Park, depending upon the occasion.
The basic salute is 21 rounds, fired at ten second intervals, but in Hyde Park an extra 20 are fired because it is a Royal Park.
Teams of horses gallop across the park, pulling six thirteen-pounder guns at speed over the grass. The guns are quickly detached and, upon command, fire booming blanks which reverberate through the ground, sending a puff of white smoke into the air.
In the parks, The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fires the salute, the first round usually being fired at noon. The salute at the Tower of London is fired from four twenty-five pounder guns located on Tower Wharf facing the River Thames, by the Honourable Artillery Company at 1pm.
When are Gun Salutes fired?
Gun salutes are fired to mark a variety of occasions, including:
- Accession Day – 6 February
- The Queen’s birthday – 21 April
- Coronation Day – 2 June
- The Queen’s official birthday – a Saturday in June
- The Prince of Wales’s birthday – 14 November
- The State Opening of Parliament – usually November or December
- Prorogation of Parliament
- Royal births, for example for Prince George and Princess Charlotte
- Meeting of a visiting Head of State and the Sovereign in London, Windsor or Edinburgh
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