Cannon salutes mark fourth anniversary of King Charles III’s accession

Cannon fire in London and Edinburgh marked the fourth anniversary of King Charles III’s accession to the British throne on Tuesday.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired 41 rounds in Hyde Park, while 21 were fired in Edinburgh, the standard number for a royal salute. The additional 20 rounds in London reflected the protocol for the capital’s royal parks. The salutes were fired at noon.

Charles became king on September 8, 2022, after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, aged 73, after seven decades as heir to the throne.

Official records show that Charles carried out royal engagements on 164 days during the past 12 months. That compared with 176 days in the previous year, 161 in his first year as monarch and 133 in his second.

Buckingham Palace announced in February 2024 that the King had an unspecified type of cancer, for which he continues to receive treatment. After an initial period of recuperation, he has maintained his working schedule. His recent overseas activities included a state visit to the Vatican in October 2025, where he met Pope Leo XIV, and a trip to Bermuda and the United States in April. In Washington, he became the second reigning British monarch to address the US Congress.