Ceremonial gun salutes reverberated through London on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of King Charles III's coronation. The day began with a 41-gun salute in Green Park, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, where six large horse-drawn guns emitted smoke from their barrels at noon. An hour later, three guns at Tower Wharf by the River Thames fired a 62-shot salute.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, in a grand ceremony reminiscent of medieval times. The past year has been marked by the King's battle with cancer, a struggle that has endeared him to the British public by showcasing his vulnerability and humanity.
Visitors like Rohan Wadke have praised King Charles III for his openness about his health challenges, noting that such transparency remains uncommon among public figures. The King recently resumed his public engagements with a visit to a cancer-care center, where he empathized with patients undergoing treatment.
Despite the rainy weather, spectators gathered to witness the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery perform the salute in Green Park. The gunners, adorned in their distinctive gold braided jackets, fired the guns as the Band of the Irish Guards provided musical accompaniment.
One visitor, Manda Pillay-Maloney, expressed her enthusiasm for being at Buckingham Palace on this special holiday in the U.K. She acknowledged the King's efforts over the past year and conveyed her appreciation for his dedication to his role.
