In Pictures: 21 Guns Of London

Ruth Hargreaves
By Ruth Hargreaves Last edited 107 months ago
In Pictures: 21 Guns Of London
A 62-gun salute to mark the birthday of the Prince of Wales in 2012. Photo by What's in Wapping.
A 62-gun salute to mark the birthday of the Prince of Wales in 2012. Photo by What's in Wapping.
A 41-gun salute in Green Park to celebrate the birth of Prince George in 2013. Photo by Ian Wylie
A 41-gun salute in Green Park to celebrate the birth of Prince George in 2013. Photo by Ian Wylie
The Gun pub in Spitalfields. Photo by Terry Moran
The Gun pub in Spitalfields. Photo by Terry Moran
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth. Photo by Tony Avon
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth. Photo by Tony Avon
Rear view of the guns at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth. Photo by tubb
Rear view of the guns at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth. Photo by tubb
Soviet 2S3 'Akatsiya' Self Propelled Gun at Firepower: The Royal Artillery Museum. Photo by Compound Eye
Soviet 2S3 'Akatsiya' Self Propelled Gun at Firepower: The Royal Artillery Museum. Photo by Compound Eye
Je Suis Charlie grafitti, photo by psyxjaw
Je Suis Charlie grafitti, photo by psyxjaw
A chair made from guns at the British Museum. Photo by Matt Brown
A chair made from guns at the British Museum. Photo by Matt Brown
Cannons in front of the Dial Arch pub, Woolwich. Photo by Duncan Harris
Cannons in front of the Dial Arch pub, Woolwich. Photo by Duncan Harris
Greenwich cannon. Photo by helenoftheways
Greenwich cannon. Photo by helenoftheways
Street art by Camden Lock Market in 2013. Photo by psyxjaw
Street art by Camden Lock Market in 2013. Photo by psyxjaw
3D street art on Bacon Street. Photo by Stephanie Sadler
3D street art on Bacon Street. Photo by Stephanie Sadler
A 41-gun salute to mark the birthday of the Prince of Wales in 2014. Photo by nicolas casana
A 41-gun salute to mark the birthday of the Prince of Wales in 2014. Photo by nicolas casana
Cannon at Royal Arsenal Brass Foundry. Photo by shadow_in_the_water
Cannon at Royal Arsenal Brass Foundry. Photo by shadow_in_the_water
Cannon Street station. Photo by Paul Steptoe Riley
Cannon Street station. Photo by Paul Steptoe Riley
Open day 2012 at the Honourable Artillery Company. Photo by Chris
Open day 2012 at the Honourable Artillery Company. Photo by Chris
2 Guns film poster at Vauxhall station. Photo by PastLondon
2 Guns film poster at Vauxhall station. Photo by PastLondon
St John the Divine and Nelson Gardens. Photo by  Andrew Smith
St John the Divine and Nelson Gardens. Photo by Andrew Smith
Tiles at Finsbury Park underground station. Photo by Sam Hart
Tiles at Finsbury Park underground station. Photo by Sam Hart
Cannon bollard by the Tower of London. Photo by roger.w800
Cannon bollard by the Tower of London. Photo by roger.w800
Someone showing off their guns. Tenuous link, we know. Photo by Dario
Someone showing off their guns. Tenuous link, we know. Photo by Dario

We wouldn't usually bring guns and celebration together, but we're making an exception today for the Queen's 89th birthday.

Each of the 21 photos above represent a round in the basic Royal salute. A further 20 rounds are fired at royal parks, palaces and fortresses, while yet another 21 rounds are fired for being in the City of London. That means that today, after passing Buckingham Palace at midday, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will stage a 41-gun royal salute in Hyde Park and an hour later, the Honorourable Artillery company will fire a 62-gun royal salute from the bank of the Thames next to the Tower of London.

It's certainly an interesting alternative to blowing out candles. Happy Birthday!

Thanks to our Flickrpool friends for their photographs: What's in Wapping, Ian Wylie, Terry Moran, Tony Avon, tubb, Compound Eye, psyxjaw, Matt Brown, Duncan Harris, helenoftheways, Stephanie Sadler, nicolas casana, shadow_in_the_water, Paul Steptoe Riley, Chris, PastLondon, Andrew Smith, Sam Hart, roger.w800, Dario

Last Updated 21 April 2015