Queen Celebrates 92nd Birthday With Gun Salutes Around The Country

The Queen is celebrating her first birthday of the year, the day she was actually born on 92 years ago.

Trooping the Colour marks her official birthday in a few weeks time, usually held on the second Saturday of June

Around the country, gun salutes have marked her special day.

In London, a 41-gun salute was held in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

Gun salutes are customarily fired, both onshore and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome.

Just as a salute with the open hand was used historically to show that no weapon was concealed in the palm, so the firing of cannon as a salute indicated the friendly intent of an empty chamber.

The basic Royal salute is 21 rounds but in Hyde Park, an extra 20 rounds are added because it is a Royal Park.

At the Tower of London, a total of 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries - the basic 21, plus a further 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, and another 21 'for the City of London'.

The Tower of London is believed to hold the record for the most rounds fired in a single salute.

On 10 June 2011, a total of 124 were fired when The Queen's official birthday (62 rounds) coincided with The Duke of Edinburgh's birthday (also 62 rounds).

Later the Queen is set to attend a star-studded concert to celebrate her special day.

Shaggy, Sting, Sir Tom Jones, Craig David and Kylie Minogue are among the artists who will take to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in central London.

The Queen and members of the royal family will be guests of honour at the celebration, which is being billed as The Queen's Birthday Party.