Queen’s Accession 41 Gun Salute. Queen Elizabeth came to the throne (aged 25) on 6 February 1952, the date when her father King George the Sixth died. The anniversary of the Queen’s accession is heralded by a 41 gun royal salute fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park at 12:00 noon and a 62-gun royal salute fired by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London at 1:00pm. More details.