Accession Day Royal Salute

Regular and Reserve soldiers marked the 63rd anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Accession to the Throne on Friday 6th February in London with two visually spectacular events.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, wearing immaculately presented full dress uniform, provided a colourful sight when they rode their horses and gun carriages out of Wellington Barracks just after 11am. They rode past Buckingham Palace and Wellington Arch and Hyde Park en route to their firing position in Green Park where they staged a 41 Gun Royal Salute. The first gun fired precisely on the stroke of Noon. Before their arrival in Green Park, the Band of the Royal Artillery played a selection of celebratory music close to the firing position.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery return to Wellington barracks after firing a 41 Gun Royal Salute for Accession Day in Green Park.Just as The King’s Troop were firing their salute, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), the City of London’s Reserve Army Regiment, in ceremonial attire, left their barracks at Armoury House and drove through the City with an escort to the Tower of London. The guns are the Regiment’s colours and were afforded due respect throughout the route. When the guns arrived at the Tower, they were placed into position, on the riverbank, overlooking HMS Belfast. At the stroke of one o’clock, the three L118 Ceremonial Light Guns, similar to those used operationally in recent years in Afghanistan, were used to fire a 62 gun salute across the Thames at ten second intervals.

Princess Elizabeth became Queen on 6 February 1952 on the day her father, King George VI, died.

Whilst a Royal Salute normally comprises 21 guns, this is increased to 41 if fired from a Royal Park or Residence. Uniquely, at The Tower of London which is a Royal Residence, a total of 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries as this also includes an additional 21 guns for the citizens of the City of London to show their loyalty to the Monarch.

In Edinburgh, Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery fired a 21-Gun Royal Salute at Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Guard was provided by C Company, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS).

The Guard Commander, Captain Iain Walker said: “It was a great honour to mount the Castle Guard for the Royal Salute at Edinburgh Castle and highlights the diverse nature of our soldiers in the modern Army.

“It provided an opportunity for each man on parade to stand proud in front of the crowds of Edinburgh, upholding the fine reputation of our Regiment.”