Still going great guns! The Queen inspects a parade marking 300 years of the Royal Artillery... as Philip salutes the Royal Marines' Beating Retreat to honour his 95th 

It's been a busy day for the Queen, 90, and Prince Philip, 94, today - who separately attended important military events 100 miles apart from each other.

The Queen marked the historic 300th anniversary of the Royal Artillery - the 'Gunners' who provide the firepower for the British Army, while a dapper-looking Prince Philip attended Beating Retreat at Horse Guards Parade in London, in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines. 

Traditionally held in celebration of the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday – which falls on June 10 – Beating Retreat sees the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines perform a magnificent pageant of military music and precision drill. 

The Queen watched the Royal Review at Knighton Down today, while Prince Philip attended Beating Retreat at Horse Guards Parade in London

The Queen stands in an open-top Range Rover as she inspects weapons of the Royal artillery during a visit to the artillery's Larkhill camp on the Salisbury plains

Military bands from the Royal Marines perform for the Duke of Edinburgh during the Beating Retreat

Beating Retreat is traditionally held in celebration of Prince Philip's birthday – which falls on June 10

The Queen was greeted by a 21-gun salute as she marked the Royal Artillery's anniversary, dressed for the occasion in head-to-toe tweed.

The commemorations took the format of a review of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at its Larkhill headquarters on the southern edge of Salisbury Plain, where weaponry - both old and new - were paraded in front of the Queen. 

During the ceremony Her Majesty - who has been Captain General since 1952 - inspected the armoured parade from her custom-built State Review Range Rover, which was debuted when the queen presented 'new colours' to the Royal Welsh Regiment in Cardiff, Wales, in June last year. 

The monarch was dressed in a smart pink coat dress with an asymmetrical hat, completing her look with a pearl necklace and earrings, and was accompanied by the Master Gunner General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, with a red carpet laid out for her as she exited the vehicle.

Her Majesty watched a ride-and-drive-past, led by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, as part of the celebrations in the sun

The Royal Review also featured a 'feu de joie' - a celebratory cascade of rifle fire while 'Gunners' dressed in white all-in-ones stood to attention

She was driven at slow speed past the equipment, armoured vehicles and weaponry used by the Royal Artillery in modern day warfare. 

The Queen also gave a speech in which she tribute to the regiment, telling the guests who included past and present members of the Royal Artillery and their families: 'In all the theatres of war and in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions throughout the world, you have served with great distinction, especially so in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.' 

Her Majesty arrives in her custom-made State Review Range Rover. She has been Captain General of the Royal Artillery since 1952

The Queen inspected the armoured parade before giving a speech to past and present members of the Royal Artillery in which she paid tribute to the regiment

Her Majesty accepted flowers from Albert Beebe, 4, and a young girl in a blue checked dress who gave a very cute curtsy 

She added: 'It has indeed been a demanding period, for Gunners of all ranks and for your families who have so closely supported you. You should be rightly proud of your achievements.'

Her Majesty then watched a ride-and-drive-past, led by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery - who fire ceremonial gun salutes in the capital on major royal and state occasions and are quartered at Woolwich. 

A 'feu de joie' - a celebratory cascade of rifle fire, which is normally fired by a line of soldiers was performed by six AS90 self propelled guns - was also performed as the ceremony concluded.

The event involved a live-firing exercise by the huge guns fitted with tank tracks, and after a few moments the shells hit their target, sending plumes of smoke into the air hundreds of metres in the distance.

The event involved a live-firing exercise by the huge guns fitted with tank tracks, and after a few moments the shells hit their target, sending plumes of smoke into the air hundreds of metres in the distance

The Queen inspected the troops as she arrived at the Royal Review at Knighton Down. In her speech she told the 'Gunners': 'In all the theatres of war and in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions throughout the world, you have served with great distinction'

She added: 'It has indeed been a demanding period, for Gunners of all ranks and for your families who have so closely supported you. You should be rightly proud of your achievements'

The monarch gave a nod to the sunny spring weather by dressing in head-to-toe tweed and enjoyed the shine from her Range Rover

The Queen was helped out of her car where troops had laid out a red carpet for her to walk down. She was saluted as she exited the vehicle

The Gunners were clearly looking forward to the Queen's visit, tweeting on Tuesday: 'T-2 days, weather is smiling, rehearsals in full swing. Looking forward to it, are you?'

Three hundred years ago to the day - May 26, 1716 - the first two permanent companies of Royal Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant in the reign of George I

Rich history: Guns were first used by the English in the 14th century, but it would be hundreds of years later before a permanent force of artillery was formed

Guns were first used by the English in the 14th century, but it would be hundreds of years later before a permanent force of artillery was formed.

Three hundred years ago to the day - May 26, 1716 - the first two permanent companies of Royal Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant in the reign of George I. Last week, the Royal Artillery kicked off its tricentenary celebrations with a service of thanksgiving at Salisbury Cathedral.

The two companies numbered 100 men each and were based at Woolwich, south east London, alongside the guns, powder and shot located in the Royal Arsenal. 

The Queen accepted flowers after giving her speech where she expressed her support for the 'Gunners' and said they should be proud of their roles

The British Army were streaming live coverage of the event on Twitter and YouTube. They wrote: 'The saying is "once a gunner, always a gunner"'

The two companies numbered 100 men each and were based at Woolwich, south east London, alongside the guns, powder and shot located in the Royal Arsenal

The Queen got back into her State Review Range Rover as onlookers watched from afar and troops saluted her to say farewell

The Gunners were clearly looking forward to the Queen's visit, tweeting on Tuesday: 'T-2 days, weather is smiling, rehearsals in full swing. Looking forward to it, are you?'

Meanwhile, the British Army were streaming live coverage of the event on Twitter and YouTube. 

They wrote: Three centuries have forged a family Regiment and members of the Royal Artillery are known as "Gunners". 

'The saying is "once a gunner, always a gunner" and serves as a reminder to all that family members, both past and present, are part of the Regiment to the end of their days.'  

The post of Captain General was previously known as Colonel-in-Chief until King George VIexpressed the desire to be known as Captain General.

The Duke of Edinburgh is greeted by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon as he arrives to attend the ceremony of Beating Retreat

Sources say Prince Philip is proud the fit of his uniform hasn’t changed since he first became Captain General in 1953

Traditionally held in celebration of the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday – which falls on June 10 – Beating Retreat sees the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines perform a magnificent pageant of military music and precision drill

The Duke of Edinburgh was greeted by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon as he arrived to attend the ceremony of Beating Retreat.

Sources say Prince Philip is proud the fit of his uniform hasn’t changed since he first became Captain General in 1953. 

Celebrities in attendance included adventurer, author and former territorial army member Bear Grylls.

The event is performed every two years and is regarded by many as a piece of living history. Proceeds raised went to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

The event is performed every two years and is regarded by many as a piece of living history

Proceeds from the popular event were donated to The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

Bear Grylls (centre) attended the event, watching the military bands perform for Prince Philip

The Guards Memorial, also known as the Guards Division War Memorial, is seen during the ceremony

Two hundred of the world’s finest military musicians performed with all five Royal Marines Bands on parade

 The Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 95 in two weeks, intently watches the ceremony