A gun salute of 96 rounds to mark each year of Queen Elizabeth II's life took place across the UK on Friday. Ninety-six shots were fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London in the capital, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland and Cardiff Castle in Wales, as well as the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.


One round was fired every ten seconds, with 96 rounds representing one round for every year of The Queen's life.


In London, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired the gun salute in Hyde Park. At the same time, it was fired at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company.


The gun salute comes amid an official period of state mourning in the UK after Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest serving monarch, passed away at 96 on Thursday at Balmoral Castle, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. She reigned for 70 years. 



A traditional Royal Salute comprises 21 rounds. Similar gun salutes were fired to mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and Winston Churchill in 1965. 


The gun salutes followed bells tolling at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Windsor Castle. Flags are also being flown at half-mast.


Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away: Follow Updates From Britain Here


Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Liz Truss led tributes at a special joint Parliament session. Truss said that since the death of the Queen was announced, there has been the "most heartfelt outpouring of grief" across the world.


"Everyone who met her will remember the moment. They will speak of it for the rest of their lives. Even those who never met her, her late majesty's image is an icon for what Britain stands for as a nation," she said. Truss also reiterated her earlier statement describing the late monarch as the "rock on which modern Britain was built".