Sometimes being told something will happen makes you suddenly realise that the same event didn’t take place at some other time.

For example, I just received a notice from the Port of London Authority that there will be a gun salute (pdf link) fired from the Tower of London, for a state visit to the UK (for the Emir of Qatar).

Memory prodded reminds me that a gun salute, usually carried out by the Honourable Artillery Company from the Tower of London is a fairly normal event for State Visits.

So why didn’t the Pope – who was on a formal State Visit – get a gun salute?

It’s not as if he doesn’t see guns and weapons on his visit – and he got ceremonial armed guards when visiting Parliament.

Curious.

As an aside, I learnt from last week’s issue of The Spectator that the first “popemobile” was designed to have machine guns in it. The idea was dropped when it was felt inappropriate for the Pope to fight back if attacked!

NEWSLETTER

Be the first to know what's on in London, and the latest news published on ianVisits.

You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails.

Tagged with: , ,
SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles.

It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising.

Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver, every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website, and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts.

If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here.

Thank you

2 comments
  1. Alan says:
    21 September 2010 at 3:55 pm

    I understand that any clergymen who the monarch knights (or rather the PM “suggests”) aren’t tapped on the shoulder by a sword as is usually done. I imagine the lack of a gun salute was felt to be a similar case: inappropriate for someone who is supposed to preach peace.

  2. TRT says:
    24 September 2010 at 11:39 am

    Did it have a flap to lob the Holy hand-grenade of Antioch out of, after the counting to three, of course?

Home >> News >> Miscellaneous