Mini cannons fired at Windsor Castle to mark King's birthday

It is the second year the guns have been fired in honour of the King

An annual 21-gun salute to mark King Charles' 75th birthday has taken place outside a royal residence.

Mini cannons, each 1ft (30cm) long, were lined along the The Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Tuesday lunchtime.

Local children were invited to take part in the long-standing tradition by firing some of the cannons under supervision.

It was one of a number of events taking place across the country, including a 41-gun salute at Buckingham Palace.

The guns were fired along the two-and-a-half mile Long Walk leading to the palace

Chris Brown, Windsor and Maidenhead's official town crier, said the cannons looked "like toys" because they were so small.

"They are real proper cannons," he said, adding: "They're not that big - but they're very loud."

Mayor of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Neil Knowles, led a special tribute to the King before the 21-gun salute.

He told BBC Radio Berkshire that people in Windsor loved the tradition - and had turned out to watch despite some adverse weather.

"We're not going to let the rain stop something like this - this has been going ahead since the 1700s," he added.

The guns are much smaller than regular cannons, but still make a loud noise

One attendee, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, said the last time she had visited Windsor Castle was for the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.

"We had a Buck's Fizz for breakfast to toast the King's birthday and then we were fortunate enough to come down here and watch the salute," she said.

"It was very wet but we were really glad we came - and we got here just in time for the first cannon."

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