Gunners at Edinburgh Castle fire royal salute for the Queen

By LUCINDA CAMERON
Published on 17/06/2012 00:00

SOLDIERS fired a 21-gun royal salute at Edinburgh Castle yesterday to mark the Queen’s official birthday during her Diamond Jubilee.

The guns were fired at noon by gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).

The Queen celebrated her actual birthday on 21 April, when she turned 86, but her official birthday is always in June.

She attended the Trooping the Colour parade in London yesterday with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, who appeared in good spirits in his first major public appearance since leaving hospital last week.

Commenting on the salute at Edinburgh Castle, Commanding Officer of 105th Regiment Lieutenant Colonel James Cook 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.”

A 21-gun royal salute also took place at Stirling Castle at noon yesterday.

In London, the Duke showed he is making a good recovery as he waved to the crowds while accompanying the Queen in a glass coach to the televised military spectacle, held annually at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.

The couple were due to travel in Queen Victoria’s 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton carriage but switched due to the “unpredictable nature of the weather”, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived together in a horse-drawn carriage.