God Save the King has been heard across the Commonwealth as the country mourns the death of the Queen and marks the ascension of King Charles III to the throne. But where does our national anthem come from?
In its present form, the anthem dates back to the 18th century, though it is believed that both the words and the tune are much older. First performed in around 1745, the song didn't become the country's national anthem until the start of the 19th century.
In September 1745, the 'Young Pretender' to the British Throne, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, defeated the army of King George II. In a fit of patriotic fervour in London, the leader of the band at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, arranged for God Save The King to be played.
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The practice soon spread to other theatres, and the custom of greeting monarchs with the song as they entered a place of public entertainment was established. The British tune has been used in other countries.
European visitors to Britain in the eighteenth century noticed the advantage of a country possessing such a recognised musical symbol. In total, around 140 composers, including Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms, have used the tune in their compositions.
What are the lyrics to God Save the King?
The lyrics for the national anthem are:
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
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