Tradition
Royal cannon salutes
31. dec. 2025—30. dec. 2026
Join us as Kronborg honors the danish royal family with traditional cannon salutes.
Experience the cannons thunder and roar from Kronborg. All year round we pay tribute to the royal family and greet The Royal Yacht Dannebrog with traditional salutes fired from our 250-year-old bronze cannons.
Cannon salutes from Kronborg
Queen Mary’s Birthday February 5
Queen Margrethe II’s Birthday April 16
Boarding the Royal Yacht Dannebrog May 6
King Frederik’s Birthday May 26
Why do we fire cannons at Kronborg?
A traditional tribute and royal ritual
Cannon salutes have deep historical roots and at Kronborg Castle, they are part of a long maritime tradition. Originally, cannon fire served as a tribute and a declaration of peaceful intent.
In the 17th century, ships at sea signalled their friendly intentions by firing their cannons and emptying them of gunpowder when encountering other vessels. Over time, fixed cannon salutes developed as an official greeting when ships approached ports. Danish ships fired three shots — known as the Danish salute.
The number three still plays a central role in royal traditions today. A new monarch is proclaimed with three times three cheers, royal cannon salutes are fired with 3 × 27 shots, and during mourning salutes, 27 × 3 shots are heard.