The smell of cordite filled the air on Front Street today as the island marked the official birthday of King Charles III with a 21-gun salute.

Crowds enjoying blazing sunshine gathered at the flagpole to watch a parade led the Royal Bermuda Regiment and the RBR’s Band and Corps of Drums.

Marching units from the Bermuda Police Service and Police Reserves, RBR Junior Leaders and the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps also took part.

David Burt, the Premier, joined Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton and heads of the uniformed services, accompanied by a police motorcade as they were driven to the flagpole, where they joined other guests, including politicians and officials.

Last to arrive was newly-knighted Sir Andrew Murdoch, the Governor and King’s representative on the island. Sir Andrew arrived in a horse-drawn open carriage.

After the first of several renditions of the national anthem, the Union Jack flag was lowered and replaced with the Royal Standard.

A symbol of the monarch, the flag bears the royal coat of arms and is usually only flown in the presence of the King.

Sir Andrew, wearing full ceremonial dress, then carried out an inspection of the ranks.

The highlight of the ceremony came when two RBR cannons placed at the quayside fired a series of shells in the direction of Hamilton Harbour.

The boom of the guns was interspersed with the crack of rifle fire as soldiers on parade fired volleys of blank rounds into the air.

The celebratory rifle salute, known as a “feu de joie” or fire of joy, is described as a "running fire of guns“ and is used on occasions of national rejoicing.

Sir Andrew drew the ceremony to a close by raising his plumed helmet and offering up three cheers to the King. The crowd joined in the “hip-hip hoorays”.

Uniformed ranks then marched to the Cabinet Building, with Band and Corps of Drums playing a medley of military tunes.

The heat of the late morning proved too much for one soldier, who had to be escorted from the parade to the shade of a store doorway.

Spectators revelled in the blaze of both sunshine and colour.

Cruise ship visitor Lori Sever and her husband, Eric, from Atlanta, Georgia, were impressed with the drill skills of the troops.

Mrs Sever said: “We just happened upon Hamilton today and didn’t know anything about it. It was fantastic. We have celebrations back home but not to this degree.

“I think it’s nice that you take time out to celebrate the King’s birthday. We’ve been to England too and it’s a very different feel to what we have in the States.

Mr Sever added: “It was very dignified — we loved it.”

Marianne and Gene Guarneri, from New Jersey, were glad to be visiting the island this weekend.

Mrs Guarneri said: “It was great, very nice. Actually we’re having something like this at home today. It’s Donald Trump’s birthday and they’re having a military parade. Frankly, we’d rather be here.”

Today’s celebration ran in tandem with the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London.

Also known as the King's Birthday Parade, that event is the highlight of the British military's ceremonial calendar and has been an annual event since 1760.

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