Gun salutes ring out to mark first anniversary of King Charles' Coronation
6 May 2024, 12:08 | Updated: 6 May 2024, 15:01
Gun salutes have rung out across Britain to mark the first anniversary of King Charles' Coronation, days after he returned to public-facing events following his cancer diagnosis.
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The gun salutes were fired in all four home nations to mark the occasion.
It comes after the King and Queen released a video montage featuring unseen clips from the historic day on Twitter.
One clip showed King Charles looking out at the crowds of royal superfans, and another shows a cockpit video selfie during the RAF fly-past.
There is footage of the ceremony itself as well as the royal pageantry, and the coronation concert.
Today in six locations across Britain a series of gun salutes were fired, and were heard in London at noon with 41 volleys fired from Green Park by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, accompanied by the Band of the Irish Guards.
One hour later at 1pm, and three miles away, the Honourable Artillery Company fired a 62-gun salute from Tower Wharf, next to Tower Bridge, with an extra 21 for the City of London.
Both regiments were involved in the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 2023 and were responsible for firing the guns to signal the moment the crown touched the King's head.
Salutes were also fired at Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Hillsborough Castle today.
In York, a 21-gun salute was fired by a 4th Regiment Royal Artillery saluting troop of three light guns with accompanying music from the Band of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment.
On Monday afternoon, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery gunners wore a distinctive dress uniform which included gold braided jackets and busby hats, and had guns in the regiment's colours.
At 12pm, on the word of command, each of the six guns fired blank rounds at 10-second intervals until 41 shots had been fired, while the Band of the Irish Guards provided musical accompaniment.
Meanwhile, shortly after midday, three guns were collected by the Honourable Artillery Company from Armoury House in Artillery Gardens and then transported to the Tower of London.
At 1pm, on the word of command, 62 volleys were fired, with each round firing from one of the three guns in turn at 10-second intervals.
The number of rounds fired in a royal salute depends on the place and occasion, meaning an extra 21 were fired during the latter ceremony "for the City of London".
Once the 1pm salute took place, many of the soldiers involved then returned to their day jobs in the City, with their dual role as Army reservists completed.
Last week, the King attended three events as he resumed royal engagements with the public, indicating the positive effect of the cancer treatment he is currently receiving as an outpatient.
On Wednesday, in his second engagement of the week, the King and Queen were presented with the Coronation Roll at Buckingham Palace.
The document follows a centuries-old tradition of creating a handwritten record of a monarch's coronation, and Charles and Camilla marvelled at the handwritten and lavishly decorated artefact which recorded all the key events from their ceremony.
The King and Queen's coronation took place on May 6 2023 at Westminster Abbey. Thousands braved the rainy weather to take to the streets to watch their procession in the Gold State Coach.
The occasion brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple.
The religious ceremony was followed by a weekend of celebrations, including a pop concert at Windsor Castle and the Big Help Out, which encouraged people from across the country to try volunteering in their local area.
On Sunday, the eve of the anniversary, the Archbishop of Canterbury said anointing and crowning the King during the Westminster Abbey ceremony was the "privilege of a lifetime".
He also paid tribute to Charles's "openness in sharing his condition" which he said was a "characteristic of his willingness to help and support others".
"It was the privilege of a lifetime to anoint and crown His Majesty, surrounded by so many of the charities and organisations he supports, as well as hundreds of people who are serving their communities," he said.
"The coronation weekend inspired millions up and down the country to volunteer, and I'm delighted that the Big Help Out is returning in June, for us to get together and make a difference.
"The past year has presented the King with some great personal challenges. But I have been struck by his continued sense of duty, having recently returned to royal engagements following treatment.
"His openness in sharing his condition has been characteristic of his willingness to help and support others.
"I continue to pray for King Charles, Queen Camilla and the royal family. May God guide, comfort and strengthen them in their service to us all."
