The national tributes begin to honorQueen Elizabeth.
Gun salutes boomed in London on Friday afternoon, with 96 rounds fired from the Tower of London and Hyde Park starting at 1 p.m. local time. One round was ceremoniously discharged for each year of the Queen’s life, Buckingham Palace said.
Rounds were also released in the late royal’s honor across the United Kingdom, including over Cardiff Castle in Wales, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands, according to the AFP.
For more on Queen Elizabeth, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Gun salutes most recently rang out in the Queen’s honor for her 96th birthday on April 21 in London and Windsor,Reutersreported.
James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images

When her husband,Prince Philip, died at age 99 in April 2021, a gun salute was also held in his name at Edinburgh Castle, The Tower of London, Cardiff Castle, Hillsborough Castle and at sea.
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced thatQueen Elizabethdied at age 96 at her beloved Balmoral Castle.
GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” officials said in a statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The Queen’s eldest son immediately ascended in theline of successionupon her death, becomingKing Charles III. His wife,Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will also now be styled as Queen Consort, an honorQueen Elizabethdirectly expressed her wishesfor in February.
Charles, 73, was further referred to as “His Majesty, the King” on letterhead from Buckingham Palace, in hisfirst statementas monarch following the death of his mother.
MICHAEL KAPPELER/DDP/AFP via Getty

“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles said.

On Friday, the new monarch will meet with the newly elected Prime MinisterLiz Trussand deliver a speech to the nation at 6 p.m. local time.
source: people.com