Gun salute marks first anniversary of King's coronation
Gun salutes were held around the country to celebrate the first anniversary of King Charles's reign, ITV News Correspondent Charlie Frost reports
King Charles III has marked his first anniversary as monarch with a royal gun salute, having recently returned to public engagements after being diagnosed with cancer.
The King attended three events last week indicating the positive effect of the treatment he is receiving as an outpatient.
Gun salutes were heard across London on Monday in celebration of the King’s coronation, with 41 volleys fired at noon by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Green Park, and an hour later the Honourable Artillery Company fired a 62-gun salute from Tower Wharf – an extra 21 for the City of London.
Further gun salutes took place at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Cardiff Castle in Wales and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, in York’s Museum Gardens, 21 shots were fired by a 4th Regiment Royal Artillery saluting troop, with music provided by the Band of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment.
The head of state has held a series of events since it was announced just over a week ago that he would be returning to public-facing engagements, on case-by-case advice from his doctors.
His first was a visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on Tuesday, where he met other cancer patients and spoke of his “shock” at receiving his diagnosis, and told those who asked that he was “well”.
On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace was the venue for the presentation of the Coronation Roll to the King and Queen, who marvelled at the document which recorded all the key events from the ceremony.
The King visited the Royal Windsor Horse Show for the first time as monarch on Friday and was hugged by his niece Zara Tindall, and later joined spectators in the stands to watch equestrian events.
The crowning of Charles and Camilla
Charles and Camilla’s coronation took place on May 6, with thousands braving the rainy weather to take to the streets to watch their procession in the Gold State Coach.
The deeply religious ceremony in London’s Westminster Abbey was followed by a weekend of celebrations including a pop concert at Windsor, where royals including Prince George and Princess Charlotte danced the night away.
Buckingham Palace finally dropped “Consort” from Camilla’s title, having cautiously let the idea of a new Queen settle into the public’s consciousness in the wake of Elizabeth II’s death.
In the defining moment, St Edward’s Crown was lowered onto the King’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Camilla was also anointed and crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown – a move unthinkable in the 1990s when she was derided for being Charles’s mistress.
The coronation brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple.
Even the Duke of Sussex was there to witness the historic occasion despite his fractured relationship with Charles and William, and the Duke of York, who paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case, attended in his Garter robes.
Andrew has always denied the allegations made against him.
The King’s son Harry – fifth in line – was seated in the third row in the Abbey and had no formal role in the proceedings.
Harry is likely to be reunited with Charles this week when he travels to the UK to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games, at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
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