21 Gun Salute

[pattersona6p]

Why is it 21 and 41 recently for the late Queen Mother

[Andromeda]

The practice of firing gun salutes has existed for centuries. Early warriors demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. In early times, it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded.

The rendering of gun salutes in odd numbers may be traced to the superstition that odd numbers were considered lucky. Seven, for example, was held by the earliest civilizations to have mystical powers. Seven gun salutes were widely used. Forts ashore, which could store gunpowder more readily and in greater quantity than on board ship, would sometimes fire three shots for each shot fired afloat and 21 guns came to be the highest military honour, fired for flag admirals. Salutes with an even number of guns came to signify that the captain or ship master had died on the voyage.

The basic Royal Salute is 21 rounds and was established in 1808. In Hyde Park an extra 20 rounds are added because it is a Royal Park. The Queen Mother therefore received 21 as the basic Royal salute, and 41 for the salutes fired in the Royal Parks.