Why a 62-gun salute?

[DosAmigos]

Prince Philip's birthday - anyone know why 62?

[DrFilth]

have 3 been sent to libya ?

[sherrardk]

Here you go - http://www.royal.gov....lutes/Gunsalutes.aspx

[DrFilth]

Gun salutes are customarily fired, both on shore and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome.

Just as a salute with the open hand was used historically to show that no weapon was concealed in the palm, so the firing of cannon as a salute indicated the friendly intent of an empty chamber.

Today gun salutes mark special occasions on certain days of the year, many of them with Royal associations.

On these days, Royal salutes are fired from locations in London and authorised stations in the United Kingdom.

The number of rounds fired in a Royal salute depends on the place and occasion.

The basic Royal salute is 21 rounds. In Hyde Park an extra 20 rounds are added because it is a Royal Park.

At the Tower of London 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries (the basic 21, plus a further 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, plus another 21 'for the City of London') and 41 on other occasions.

The Tower of London probably holds the record for the most rounds fired in a single salute: 124 are fired on 10 June when The Queen's official birthday (62 rounds) coincides with The Duke of Edinburgh's birthday (also 62 rounds).

Military saluting stations are London, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Cardiff and Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland.

In London, salutes are fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London. On State Visits, at the State Opening of Parliament and for The Queen's Birthday Parade, Green Park is used instead of Hyde Park.

The salute is fired by The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. The first round is fired at noon (11.00 am on The Queen's official birthday).

At the Tower of London, the salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company at 1.00 pm.

Gun salutes occur on the following Royal anniversaries:
6 February (Accession Day)
21 April (The Queen's bi

[DosAmigos]

Nice one sherrardk - thanks :)

[DrFilth]

from all that gumf

At the Tower of London 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries (the basic 21, plus a further 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, plus another 21 'for the City of London') and 41 on other occasions.

[hc4361]

At the Tower of London 62 rounds are fired on royal anniversaries (the basic 21, plus a further 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, plus another 21 'for the City of London') and 41 on other occasions. The Tower of London probably holds the record for the most rounds fired in a single salute — 124 are fired whenever the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday (62 rounds) coincides with the Saturday designated as the Queen's official birthday (also 62 rounds).

Wikki

[Gromit]

Army cutbacks - they could afford 90?

[DosAmigos]

Thanks guys - we should all should learn a little something every day..

[Manwithnoname]

all that ammo & they still keep missing

[Hopkirk]

Bleeding ridiculous, I say.

Send him back to Greece.

[ummmm]

Why would they send him back to Greece? He's not Greek.

[waldorfman]

Is this the same person ?

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark 10 June 1921) is the husband of Elizabeth II.
He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch.

Born 10 June 1921 (age 90)
Villa Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece

[mike11111]

The Danish Royal Family was placed on the Greek throne in the 19C, hence his title of prince of Greece and Denmark, which he had to surrender on becoming a naturalised British citizen. The last person to hold such distinction before him was the late Princess Marina, princess of Denmark and Greece, wife of the late Prince George, Duke of Kent and mother of the present duke, also the last person of royal blood to marry into the British royal family. She was so snobbish that she referred to the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother) and the Duchess of Gloucester (Princess Alice) as " those common little Scottish girls"

[Manwithnoname]

Prince of Denmark wasn`t that Hamlet,alas.