96 gun salute echoes across Britain as church bells ring to mark death of Queen

9 September 2022, 12:02 | Updated: 9 September 2022, 15:19

Church bells ring out across UK to mark the death of the Queen

A series of 96 gun salutes have echoed across Britain to mark the death of the Queen, shortly after church bells rang out in tribute to the monarch.

Gun salutes took place in a number of place including Hyde Park, Cardiff, Gibraltar, Plymouth, Stonehenge, Edinburgh, York and Jersey.

Each artillery unit fired 96 shots, one for each year of the Queen's life.

At 12pm, tens of thousands of church bells have rung out across the UK in tribute to Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen died peacefully in Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.

Read more: Live updates: King Charles to return to London as memorials to Queen Elizabeth begin

A number of churches, including St Paul's Cathedral in London, rung their bells at noon in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Westminster Abbey sounded its bells at the same time.

Read more: Tearful Charles leaves Balmoral to fly back to London with Queen Consort Camilla for his first address as King

Read more: Grieving Harry consoles airport worker before flying back from Balmoral after Queen's death

In Scotland, bells rang at Crathie Kirk, near the Balmoral estate.

Glasgow and Manchester Cathedrals also tolled its bells at midday.

Bells ring out in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh at midday to mark Queen's passing

At the same time MPs observed a minute's silence in memory of the Queen in the House of Commons chamber.

They stood in a crowded chamber with heads bowed.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led the tributes, telling MPs: "She is wed in our minds with the crown and all it stands for."

Read more: King Charles announces grieving royals to mourn for at least two weeks as crowds gather at Buckingham Palace

Read more: Queen died 'with Charles and Anne' at her bedside as other Royals rushed in vain to be by her side

The Prime Minister said the Queen had fulfilled her promised to "dedicate her life to service".

Liz Truss told the Commons: "As we meet today, we remember the pledge she made on her 21st birthday to dedicate her life to service.

"The whole House will agree, never has a promise been so completely fulfilled."

She added: "Her devotion to duty remains an example to us all.

"She carried out thousands of engagements, she took a red box everyday, she gave her assent to countless pieces of legislation and was at the heart of our national life for seven decades."

Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Theresa May could both be seen on the backbenches, listening to their successor's tribute.