CANNON fire thundered through the Museum Gardens, in York, as soldiers based in the city saluted the Queen on her 74th birthday.
The 21-gun salute, by gunners from 129 Dragon Battery of 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery, sent plumes of white smoke into the sky as crowds who had gathered to watch the spectacle recovered from the jolt.
The band of 150 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, then struck up to add the required pomp to the ceremony.
The troops, led by Brigadier Andrew Farquhar, commander of 15 (North East) Brigade, were inspected by the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, David Kenworthy.
York is one of only 12 locations given the right to be a saluting station.
Picture-SALUTE: Brigadier Andrew Farquhar, left, Commander of 15 (North East) Brigade, and David Kenworthy, Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, on the dais in Museum Gardens, York, as the Queen's birthday salute is fired
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