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by Karrie Gillett
HUNDREDS have gathered to watch 21 gun shots being fired into the sky over Edinburgh.
The salute was held to honour the anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne on February 6 1952.
Gunners from the Saluting Troop of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery lined up three canons for the commemoration service at Edinburgh Castle.
The 21 shots form a “royal salute” and are used to mark special royal occasions in the UK.
Friday marked the 57th anniversary of the Queen’s reign which also saw the monarch make a last-minute decision to pull out of a state visit.
In a rare move, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh cancelled their tour to an unnamed country citing a “busy schedule”.
The Queen last pulled out of a tour after the 9/11 terror attack and during the 2003 Iraq conflict.
Other dates in the diary for a gun salute are the Queen’s birthday in April and her Coronation Day in June.
The Edinburgh event saw tourists lined up for the 12 noon 21-shot parade, complete with a lone piper.
Colonel Iain Ross, Commanding Officer, said it was a great privilege to fire the honorary salute.
He said: “It is a particular honour to fire on the occasion of her Accession as Her Majesty is the Captain General of our regiment.
“The Gunners of the Saluting Troop take great pride in conducting Royal Salutes; they are a credit to themselves, the Regiment and the Army.”
