At the Tower of London, a royal salute includes the traditional 21 rounds, another 21 rounds to show the City of London’s allegiance to the Crown, and the final 20 rounds as the tower is a royal palace and fortress. At noon 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 will be present, together with the Court and members of the Common Council. The Honorable 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 Honorable Artillery Company and eight State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry. The King’s Troop, the Royal Horse Artillery, in ceremonial dress, will march from their base at Wellington Barracks, located next to Buckingham Palace in central London. The procession of 71 horses will ascend the Birdcage Walk, pass the Queen Victoria Memorial, Constitution Hill and Hyde Park. Six First World War era 13-pounder Field Guns will be pulled by 36 horses. The six guns will be placed 10 meters apart, parallel to the tree line in Hyde Park, facing Buckingham Palace. The order to fire will be given by Major Francesca Sykes, Commander of the King’s Troop RHA. He will ride Charger Sir Yawnberry Dawdle. The gun salute will take place alongside the River Thames and will be conducted by the Honorable Artillery Company (HAC). The HAC, the City of London Army Reserve Regiment, in ceremonial dress, will leave their barracks at Armory House and cross the city in their high-speed Pinzgauer vehicles with a police escort to the Tower of London.
The Importance of Gun Salutes
When the guns reach the Tower they will be placed in position on the river bank facing HMS Belfast. The order to fire will be given by Major Matt Aldridge, the HAC Battery Officer Commanding.
