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Gun salutes to mark Queen's 88th birthday | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Queen's 88th birthday has been marked across the UK with traditional gun salutes. | The Queen's 88th birthday has been marked across the UK with traditional gun salutes. |
A 41-gun royal salute was fired in Green Park in London and a 62 gun-salute from the Tower of London. | A 41-gun royal salute was fired in Green Park in London and a 62 gun-salute from the Tower of London. |
Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery fired two 21-gun royal salutes at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles. | |
Salutes were also fired in Northern Ireland and Wales. The Queen is spending the day privately at Windsor. | |
Tradition followed | Tradition followed |
The Queen was born on 21 April 1926 at the home of her mother's parents in Mayfair. | The Queen was born on 21 April 1926 at the home of her mother's parents in Mayfair. |
However, her birthday is also celebrated officially each year in June at the Trooping the Colour service - which this year will take place on 14 June. | However, her birthday is also celebrated officially each year in June at the Trooping the Colour service - which this year will take place on 14 June. |
The gun salute at Green Park was carried out by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery using 13-pounder World War One guns drawn by 71 horses. | The gun salute at Green Park was carried out by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery using 13-pounder World War One guns drawn by 71 horses. |
Before the King's Troop arrived, the Band of the Honourable Artillery Company and Royal Yeomanry played celebratory music. | Before the King's Troop arrived, the Band of the Honourable Artillery Company and Royal Yeomanry played celebratory music. |
The 62-shot salute at the Tower of London was completed by the Honourable Artillery Company. | The 62-shot salute at the Tower of London was completed by the Honourable Artillery Company. |
It included 21 shots for the Queen's birthday, 20 because it is a royal palace, and 21 to follow a tradition in which ships would fire their guns before entering the City of London to show they were not threatening. | It included 21 shots for the Queen's birthday, 20 because it is a royal palace, and 21 to follow a tradition in which ships would fire their guns before entering the City of London to show they were not threatening. |
Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery fired two 21-gun royal salutes in Scotland; while in Wales, the salute was fired at Cardiff City Hall. | Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery fired two 21-gun royal salutes in Scotland; while in Wales, the salute was fired at Cardiff City Hall. |
The salute in Northern Ireland was carried out at Hillsborough Castle in County Down. | The salute in Northern Ireland was carried out at Hillsborough Castle in County Down. |