[Jimbuna]

~SALUTE~

The Queen's 88th birthday is being 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.

In Scotland, gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery have fired two 21-gun royal salutes at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles.

The monarch is spending the day privately at Windsor Castle.

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.



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.

The salute at the Tower was completed by the Honourable Artillery Company.

Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery have 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 due to be carried out at Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

Royal Salutes

Gun salutes are fired as a sign of respect or welcome
The basic royal salute is 21 rounds, however Royal Parks add an extra 20
The Tower of London fires the standard 21, then another 20 because it is a royal palace and then another 21 for "the City of London"
A total of 124 guns are fired at the Tower whenever Trooping The Colour coincides with the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday on 10 June
Other countries which carry out 21-gun salutes for royalty include Canada, Denmark and Sweden