What time is the gun salute today? When there are gun salutes in Hyde Park and Edinburgh for Accession Day
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will commemorate the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II with private prayers and a moment of reflection on the first anniversary of her death.
The King and Queen, who are staying at their Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, will attend nearby Crathie Kirk for the event at the church where the late Queen worshipped.
Friday is also the anniversary of the King’s accession to the throne. He became sovereign when his mother died peacefully on 8 September last year at Balmoral, aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
He recorded a message and released a favourite photograph of the late Queen to mark both anniversaries, recalling with “great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us”.
He added: “I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”
While Accession Day is never a time of great celebration, as it also marks the death of the previous monarch, tributes are traditionally paid in the form of gun salutes.
When are the Accession Day gun salutes?
Soldiers and horses who took part in the late Queen’s state funeral procession and proclamation salutes for the start of King Charles’ reign will return for Accession Day gun anniversary salutes in the King’s honour on Friday 8 September.
Captain Amy Cooper, who was the lead rider in the procession which carried the coffin to lie in state in Westminster Hall, will give the order to fire a 41-gun salute at midday in London’s Hyde Park. There will be a 21-gun salute at the same time at Edinburgh Castle.
A 62-gun salute will be fired at 1pm at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company – the regiment and the King’s Troop were responsible for gun salutes following the death of Elizabeth II.
Bells will be rung at Westminster Abbey at 1pm.
How is the number of gun salutes decided?
The standard tradition is for a 21-gun salute.
Captain Tom Chinnery, centre section commander of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, told Forces News: “The reason why it’s 21 rounds is when ships entered port they have to fire all their 21 guns off.”
However, an extra 20 rounds are added to any gun salute taking place in one of London’s royal parks, which is why today’s in Hyde Park has 41.
An extra 21 is added for any salute within the City of London, which is why the one at the Tower of London is a 62-gun salute.
How is King Charles marking Accession Day?
The King and Queen will be joined by a small number of guests for private memorial prayers at Crathie Church. As is tradition they have been spending their summer break in nearby Balmoral.
The formal colour photograph of the late Queen that Charles chose to release was taken by Cecil Beaton and shows her aged 42 in 1968.
She is standing sideways and smiling in her garter robes, wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara, made of 15 interlaced diamond circles.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will visit the Welsh cathedral of St Davids for a short private service to pay tribute to the late Queen as part of a trip to Pembrokeshire. Afterwards they are due to meet members of the local community in the adjacent cloisters.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to Elizabeth II. “With the perspective of a year, the scale of her late majesty’s service only seems greater,” he said.
“Her devotion to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth only seems deeper. And our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and dedication only continues to grow.”
Mr Sunak said he treasured his memories of meeting the late Queen and was struck by her “wisdom, by her incredible warmth and grace”, and also her “sharp wit”.
“People across the UK, whether they had the good fortune to meet her late majesty or not, will be reflecting today on what she meant to them and the example she set for us all,” he added.
