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| Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Fires 96 Cannons |
International Military - Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on Thursday, after 70 years on the throne of the British Empire. In homage, the £3 billion British carrier fired 96 cannons. The cannon fire was fired on Friday by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the main carrier named after the queen. The number of 96 shots corresponded to the age of the late monarch's longest-serving ruler.
Dozens of shots were fired at Cardiff castles, Edinburgh and Hillsborough and Gibraltar after news of the queen's death spread. Photographs provided by the Ministry of Defence, taken from a Merlin Mk2 helicopter, show the 820th Naval Air Squadron firing dozens of cannons.
Queen Elizabeth is honored with honor for her status as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Respect was also made to five other ships. Similar gun honors have been held to mark the deaths of Queen Victoria in 1901 and the wartime British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
Gun salutes are usually 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 which are associated with royal associations.
For example, the arms salute is performed on royal anniversaries including accession day, birthday of the king or queen, coronation day, opening of the country's Parliament session, royal birth and when foreign heads of state visit and meet the king or queen in London, Windsor or Edinburgh.
The Ministry of Defense said the tradition of gun salutes was routinely fired across the country to mark significant national events dating back centuries, and there is a historical record of salutes dating back to the early 14th century when guns and ammunition began to be widely adopted.
At 1pm on Friday, the "Death Gun Salute" was fired in London, as well as at other locations in the UK and at tribute stations at home and abroad. One round is fired every 10 seconds, of which 96 rounds represent each year of Queen Elizabeth II's life.
In London, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired "Death Gun Salute" at Hyde Park, while at the same time "Death Gun Salute" was fired at the Tower of London by the Honorable Artillery Company (HAC).
About 71 horses entered Hyde Park, 36 of which pulled six 13-pound World War One-era cannons. The Royal Horse Artillery of the King's Army is a ceremonial unit mounted by the British Army that performs the royal gun salute on monarchy anniversaries and state occasions, such as state visits and royal birthdays.
The HAC dates from 1537, making it the oldest regiment in the British Army. It took over the gun salute role from the Tower of London in 1924. "It is an honor and privilege for HAC to play our part in commemorating the life of Her Majesty The Queen, our Captain General. In this time of national mourning, our thoughts are with the royal family." said Major Matt Aldridge, a commander from HAC. in uniform," he said.