The British National Anthem
The Flag of Great Britain
The British National Anthem is God Save the Queen. It was composed sometime before 1745 when it was first performed for George II after he had defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Prestonpans.
God Save the King was was the first national anthem ever, although the Dutch National Anthem, Het Wilhelmus, is an older song.
After the British had a national anthem, other countries thought it was a good idea to have a song that could represent their country.
To follow their example, many countries commissioned anthems to be written for their own country.
Many countries use the God Save the King as their royal anthem, mainly the countries that were at one time in the British Empire, like Australia, Canada Jamaica and many others. Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden and others use the same tune with different lyrics.
God Save the King
was first performed for
King George II in 1745
It is even the tune to the American patriotic song, My Country 'Tis of Thee, which used to be the United States National Anthem before the Star Spangled Banner.
The lyrics to God Save the Queen change depending on whether the monarch is male or female. When the monarch is male, Queen is changed to King, the pronouns are also changed and the last two lines of the thrid verse are changed to "With heart and voice to sing, God save the King".
The Countries inside the United Kingdom also have their own national anthems. The Scottish national anthem traditionally was Scotland the Brave until the 1990's when it became the Flower of Scotland. Wales uses Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau meaning Land of my Fathers. Northern Ireland uses Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) or God Save the Queen which is what is also used for England.
Standard God Save the Queen Lyrics
God Save the Queen
by Composer Unknown
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen
Did You Know...?
- Over 140 composers have used the tune of God Save the Queen in their compositions. Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann Christian Bach, Sir Edward Elgar, and Johann Strauss I are just some of the few!
- England was the first country with a national anthem.
- The British National Anthem lyrics change depending on whether the monarch is male of female.
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