Prince Charles' Birthday Goes Off With A Bang

Prince Charles' birthday went off with a bang as squaddies gathered in Edinburgh for a traditional military salute.

The Prince of Wales' 69th birthday was marked by a 21 Gun Salute in the capital at 12 noon.

Crowds gathered to watch the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - the Airborne Gunners - fire 21 rounds at 15-second intervals from Mills Mount Battery at Edinburgh Castle.

It is a military tradition to fire artillery in honour of the Prince of Wales' birthday.

The Airborne Gunners are based at Merville Barracks, Colchester and their primary role is to provide a gun battery ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army's rapid reaction force.