King’s Guard accompanied by band of the Coldstream Guards and State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry at the Principal Proclamation
For the first time since the reign of King George VI, a detachment of The King’s Guard will be seen today at the Principal Proclamation of His Majesty The King.
The King’s Guard, provided by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, will be accompanied by the band of the Coldstream Guards and eight State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.
The detachment was known as The Queen’s Guard during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
In recognition of the new Sovereign, flags will be flown at full-mast from the time of the Principal Proclamation at St James’s Palace until one hour after the Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, after which flags will return to half-mast in mourning for the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
At a time to coincide with the Principal Proclamation, a Royal Salute of 41 rounds will be fired by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) in Hyde Park, and a Royal Salute of 62 rounds from HM Tower of London will be fired by the Honourable Artillery Company.
A traditional Royal Salute comprises 21 rounds. A further 20 rounds are fired in royal parks, such as Hyde Park.
At the Tower of London, a royal salute comprises the traditional 21 rounds, a further 21 rounds to show the loyalty of the City of London to the Crown, and a final 20 rounds as the tower is a royal palace and fortress.
At midday the Proclamation will be read from the steps of the Royal Exchange by Clarenceux King of Arms. The Lord Mayor of the City of London, together with the Court of Aldermen and Members of Common Council, will be present.
The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers of The Honourable Artillery Company, The Lord Mayor’s Body Guard in the City of London, will be on duty at the Royal Exchange. They will be accompanied by The Band of the Honourable Artillery Company and eight State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.
The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, in ceremonial dress, will ride out from their forward mounting base in Wellington Barracks, located next to Buckingham Palace in central London.
The procession of 71 horses will make their way up Birdcage Walk, past the Queen Victoria Memorial, up Constitution Hill and into Hyde Park.
Six First World War-era 13-pounder Field Guns will be pulled by 36 horses. The six guns will be positioned 10m apart, parallel to the tree line in Hyde Park, facing toward Buckingham Palace.
The order of fire will be given by Major Francesca Sykes, Commanding Officer of King’s Troop RHA. She will be riding Charger Sir Yawnberry Dawdle.
The gun salute will take place beside the River Thames and will be carried out by The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).
The HAC, the City of London’s Reserve Army Regiment, in ceremonial attire, will leave their barracks at Armoury House and drive through the City in their liveried Pinzgauer vehicles with police escort to the Tower of London.
When the guns arrive at the Tower, they will be placed into position, on the riverbank, facing towards HMS Belfast.
The order of fire will be given by Major Matt Aldridge, the Officer Commanding A Battery of the HAC.
Gun salutes are customarily fired, both on land and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome.
Today, gun salutes mark special occasions on certain days of the year, many of them with royal associations.
The tradition of gun salutes routinely being fired throughout the country to mark significant national events dates back centuries.
There are historical records of salutes taking place as early as the 14th-century when guns and ammunition began to be adopted widely.
Similar gun salutes were fired to mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965.
Gun salutes occur on the following royal anniversaries: Accession Day, the Monarch’s birthday, Coronation Day, the Monarch’s official birthday, the State Opening of Parliament, royal births, and when a visiting Head of State meets the sovereign in London, Windsor or Edinburgh.
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