London’s ceremonial gun salutes during 2022

Ceremonial military guns will go bang bang several times in London during 2022, at the Tower of London and in the Royal Parks.

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 and Green Park, an extra 20 rounds are added because they are Royal Parks. Gun salutes in the Royal Parks usually take place at Noon. Preceding it, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will parade their 71 horses and six First World War-era gun carriages out from Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk, past Buckingham Palace and up Constitution Hill in the morning to stage the midday salute. In anticipation of their arrival, the Band of the Grenadier Guards will perform celebratory music near the firing position, which is a helpful hint if you’re trying to find them.

In Green Park, the best views are from Constitution Hill, and when salutes are given in Hyde Park, then they are close to Marble Arch.

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 gun salutes at the Tower of London take place along the riverside, so visible to all, but the area is cramped. Often you get a better view from Tower Bridge.

At both locations, once the ceremony starts, the guns continue to fire one after the other at 10-second intervals until the required number of rounds have been fired.

Gun Salutes in London 2022

Monday 7th February 2022

Accession Day

• Noon – Green Park (41 rounds)
• 1pm – Tower of London (62 rounds)

Thursday 21st April 2022

HM The Queen’s Birthday

• Noon – Hyde Park (41 rounds)
• 1pm – Tower of London (62 rounds)

10th May

• Noon – Tower of London

Thursday 2nd June 2022

Official Birthday of HM The Queen and Coronation Day (combined salute)

• Noon – Hyde Park (41 rounds)
• 1pm – Tower of London (62 rounds)

June – date to be confirmed

• Likely to be a state visit

October – date to be confirmed

• Likely to be a state visit or the State Opening of Parliament

Sunday 13th November 2022

Remembrance Sunday

• A two-gun salute will be fired on Horse Guards Parade, one at the start of the two minutes silence at 11:00am and one at the end at 11:02am.

Monday 14th November 2022

Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales

• Noon – Green Park (41 rounds)
• 1pm – Tower of London (62 rounds)