Edinburgh Castle gun salute to Queen
A gun salute at Edinburgh Castle has marked the 64th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
A gun salute at Edinburgh Castle has marked the 64th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery fired a 21-gun royal salute to commemorate the start of her reign, the longest in British history.
Princess Elizabeth acceded to the throne on this day in 1952 following the death of her father King George VI , and was crowned on June 2 the following year.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank Ward, Commanding Officer of 105th Regiment, said: The royal salute provides a great occasion for the gunners to display their professionalism and pride in conducting such an honour in Scotland's capital city.
George VI died in his sleep at Sandringham House on the royal estate in Norfolk after suffering from lung cancer.
Princess Elizabeth, then aged 25, was in Kenya on a Commonwealth tour with the Duke of Edinburgh when she learned of his death.
A 41-gun salute was fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in London's Green Park on Saturday, while a 62-gun salute by the Honourable Artillery Company was fired at the Tower of London.
The Queen turns 90 this year and a weekend of national events is planned to coincide with her official birthday celebrations in June.