royal salute
noun /ˌrɔɪəl səˈluːt/
/ˌrɔɪəl səˈluːt/
- (in Britain) the firing of cannons to mark certain royal or state occasions. These include the Queen's Birthday, the opening of Parliament, and the visits of foreign heads of state. The guns are normally fired near the Tower of London or in one of the royal parks. The number of rounds fired varies according to the occasion. For example, 41 rounds are fired when a child is born to a member of the royal family.