View source for God Save the King

{{Short description|British patriotic song}}
{{Other uses|God Save the King (disambiguation)|God Save the Queen (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = "God Save the King"
| image         = God Save the King (sheet, 1745).png
| image_size    = 
| alt           = Sheet music of God Save the King
| caption       = Publication of an early version in ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]'', October 1745. The title, on the contents page, is given as "God save our lord the king: A new song set for two voices".
| prefix        = National or royal
| country       = the United Kingdom and some other [[Commonwealth realm]]s{{efn|A national anthem of New Zealand<ref name =NZ/> and the royal anthem of Australia,<ref name="Aus">{{Cite web |title=Australian National Anthem |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/australian-national-symbols/australian-national-anthem |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=19 January 2022 |publisher=Australian Government |archive-date=27 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027193111/https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/australian-national-symbols/australian-national-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref> The Bahamas,<ref name=Factbook/> Belize,<ref name=Factbook/> Canada,<ref name="Canada">{{URL|https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/royal-symbols-titles/royal-anthem.html}}</ref> Grenada<ref name=Factbook/> and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=2 August 2019|title=SVG gov't opts to install new GG on Emancipation Day|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|url-status=live|website=iWitness News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824022441/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|archive-date=24 August 2024|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref>}}
<!-- reliable source is required, do not add too many lists here. -->| alt_title     = "God Save the Queen"<br />(when the monarch is female)
| lyrics_date   = 
| composer      = Composer unknown<!-- Do not add a composer's name without citing a reliable source. -->
| music_date    = 
| adopted       = {{Start date and age|1745|9}} (United Kingdom) (''de facto'')
| sound         = File:United_States_Navy_Band_-_God_Save_the_Queen.ogg<!-- Do not change file name due to computer error without ensuring that the file is playable. -->
| sound_title   = "God Save the King", performed by the [[United States Navy Band]] in [[B-flat major]]
}}

"'''God Save the King'''" (also known as "'''God Save the Queen'''" when the [[Queen regnant|monarch is female]]) is the ''[[de facto]]'' [[national anthem]] of the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="royal family" /> It is one of the [[national anthems of New Zealand|two national anthems]] of [[New Zealand]]<ref name="NZ">{{Cite web |date=8 October 2023 |title=God Save The King anthem |url=https://www.mch.govt.nz/our-work/flags-anthems-and-emblems/national-anthems/god-save-king-anthem |website=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=23 September 2024 |archive-date=15 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815224714/https://www.mch.govt.nz/our-work/flags-anthems-and-emblems/national-anthems/god-save-king-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[royal anthem]] of the [[Isle of Man]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2003 |title=Tynwald: Votes and Proceedings |url=https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/vp/VP/tv21012003.pdf |website=[[Tynwald]] |at=Motion 27}}</ref> [[Australia]],<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Curran |first1=James |title=The Unknown Nation: Australia After Empire |last2=Ward |first2=Stuart |date=2010 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |isbn=978-0-522-85645-3 |location=Carlton, Vic |chapter=Chapter 5. 'God Save Australia's Fair Matilda': Songs}}</ref> [[Canada]] and some other [[Commonwealth realms]].<ref name="Factbook">{{Cite web |title=National anthem |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319002941/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref> The author of the tune is unknown and it may originate in [[plainchant]], but an attribution to the composer [[John Bull (composer)|John Bull]] has sometimes been made.

Beyond its first verse, which is consistent, "God Save the King" has many historic and extant versions. Since its first publication, different verses have been added and taken away and, even today, different publications include various selections of verses in various orders.<ref>cf. the versions in the hymn books ''English Hymnal'', ''Hymns Ancient and Modern'', and ''Songs of Praise''</ref> In general, only one verse is sung. Sometimes two verses are sung and, on certain occasions, three.<ref name="royal family"/>

The entire composition is the [[Honors music|musical salute]] for the [[British monarch]] and their [[Consort of the British monarch|royal consort]],<ref>{{cite web| title=Thatcher funeral: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip arrive| work=YouTube| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxBn2HbkdBk| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314151549/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxBn2HbkdBk| archive-date=14 March 2016| url-status=dead| access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> while other members of the [[British royal family]] who are entitled to royal salute (such as the [[Prince of Wales]], along with his spouse) receive just the first six [[Bar (music)|bars]]. The first six bars also form all or part of the [[Viceroy|viceregal]] salute in some Commonwealth realms other than the UK (e.g., in Canada, [[Governor General of Canada|governors general]] and lieutenant governors at official events are saluted with the first six bars of "God Save the King" followed by the first four and last four bars of "[[O Canada]]"), as well as the salute given to governors of [[British Overseas Territories]].

In countries not part of the [[British Empire]], the tune of "God Save the King" has provided the basis for various patriotic songs, ones generally connected with royal ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=United Kingdom – God Save the King |url=http://nationalanthems.me/united-kingdom-god-save-the-queen/ |access-date=23 November 2011 |publisher=NationalAnthems.me |archive-date=18 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118235427/http://nationalanthems.me/united-kingdom-god-save-the-queen/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The melody is used for the national anthem of [[Liechtenstein]], "{{lang|de|[[Oben am jungen Rhein]]}}"; the royal anthem of [[Norway]], "{{lang|no|[[Kongesangen]]}}"; and the American patriotic song "[[My Country, 'Tis of Thee]]" (also known as "America"). The melody was also used for the national anthem "{{lang|de|[[Heil dir im Siegerkranz]]}}" ("Hail to thee in the Victor's Crown") of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] from 1795 until 1918; as the anthem of the [[German Emperor]] from 1871 to 1918; as "[[The Prayer of Russians]]", the imperial anthem of the [[Russian Empire]], from 1816 to 1833; and as the national anthem of [[Switzerland]], "{{lang|de|[[Rufst du, mein Vaterland]]}}", from the 1840s until 1961.

==History==
The text first appeared in England in the late 1590s, with the publication of [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]''. In Act IV, Scene I, [[Anne Neville|Lady Anne]] says to [[Elizabeth Woodville|Queen Elizabeth]]: "Were red-hot steel to sear me to the brains! Anointed let me be with deadly venom, And die ere men can say 'God save the Queen.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite wikisource|noicon=y|last=Shakespeare|first=William|author-link=William Shakespeare|wslink=Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)|plaintitle=[[First Folio]] facsimile|chapter=The Tragedy of Richard the Third/Act 4 Scene 1|date=1910|orig-date=1623|page=193|publisher=[[Methuen Publishing]]|location=London|scan=Shakespeare - First Folio Faithfully Reproduced, Methuen, 1910.djvu/555}}</ref>

In ''[[The Oxford Companion to Music]]'', [[Percy Scholes]] points out the similarities to an early [[plainsong]] melody, although the rhythm is very distinctly that of a [[galliard]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Scholes|first=Percy A.|author-link=Percy Scholes|title=The Oxford Companion to Music|year=1970|edition=10th| publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]| title-link=The Oxford Companion to Music}}</ref> and he gives examples of several such dance tunes that bear a striking resemblance to "God Save the King". Scholes quotes a keyboard piece by [[John Bull (composer)|John Bull]] (1619) which has some similarities to the modern tune, depending on the placing of [[accidental (music)|accidentals]] which at that time were unwritten in certain cases and left to the discretion of the player (see {{lang|la|[[musica ficta]]}}). He also points to several pieces by [[Henry Purcell]], one of which includes the opening notes of the modern tune, setting the words "God Save the King". Nineteenth-century scholars and commentators mention the widespread belief that an old Scots carol, "Remember O Thou Man", was the source of the tune.<ref>{{cite book| last=Sousa| first = John Philip|author-link=John Philip Sousa| title=National, Patriotic, and Typical Airs of All Lands| year=1890| quote=[Remember O Thou Man] is the air on the ground of which ''God Save the King'' Is sometimes claimed for Scotland. It is in two strains of 8 bars each and has the rhythm and melody of the modern tune in the first and third bars of the second strain. But it is in minor.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last=Pinkerton| first=John|author-link=John Pinkerton| title = The Literary Correspondence of John Pinkerton, Esq.| year=1830| quote='Remember O thou man' is unquestionably the root of 'God save the King'}}</ref>

The first published version that resembles the present song appeared in 1744, with no title but the heading "For two voices", in an anthology originally named ''Harmonia Britannia'' but changed after only a few copies had been printed to ''Thesaurus Musicus''.<ref>{{multiref|
{{cite journal |last1=Krummel |first1=Donald W. |title=God save the King |journal=[[The Musical Times]]|date=1962 |volume=103 |issue=1429 |pages=159–160 |doi=10.2307/949253 |jstor=949253 |issn=0027-4666}}|
{{cite book|last=Chappell|first=William|author-link=William Chappell (writer)|title=The Ballad Literature and Popular Music of the Olden Time: A History of the Ancient Songs, Ballads, and of the Dance Tunes of England, with Numerous Anecdotes and Entire Ballads : Also a Short Account of the Minstrels |date=1855 |publisher=Chappell |page=709 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qdlWAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA704|ref=none}}|
{{cite book |title=Thesaurus musicus : a collection of two, three, and four part songs : several of them never before printed, to which are added some choice dialogues set to musick by the most eminent masters |date=1745 |publisher=J. Simpson |location=London |page=22 |volume=I |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/thesaurusmusicus00lamp/page/22 |chapter=A Loyal Song sung at the Theatres Royal}}
}}</ref> When the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] pretender [[Charles Edward Stuart]] led the [[Jacobite rising of 1745|1745 rising]], the song spread among those loyal to King [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]. The tune published in ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]'' in 1745 departs from that used today at several points, one as early as the first bar, but is otherwise clearly a strong relative of the contemporary anthem. It was recorded as being sung in London theatres in 1745, with, for example, [[Thomas Arne]] writing a setting of the tune for the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]].

Scholes' analysis includes mention of "untenable" and "doubtful" claims, as well as "an American misattribution". Some of these are:
* [[James Oswald (composer)|James Oswald]] was a possible author of the ''Thesaurus Musicus'', so may have played a part in the history of the song, but is not a strong enough candidate to be cited as the composer of the tune.
* [[Henry Carey (writer)|Henry Carey]]: Scholes refutes this attribution: first on the grounds that Carey himself never made such a claim; second, when the claim was made by Carey's son (in 1795), it was in support of a request for a pension from the British Government; and third, the younger Carey claimed that his father, who died in 1743, had written parts of the song in 1745. It has also been claimed that the work was first publicly performed by Carey during a dinner in 1740 in honour of Admiral [[Edward Vernon]], who had captured the Spanish harbour of [[Porto Bello, Panama|Porto Bello]] (then in the [[Viceroyalty of New Granada]], now in [[Panama]]) during the [[War of Jenkins' Ear]].

Scholes recommends the attribution "traditional" or "traditional; earliest known version by John Bull (1562–1628)". The ''[[English Hymnal]]'' (musical editor [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]) gives no attribution, stating merely "17th or 18th cent."<ref>{{cite book| last=Dearmer|first=Percy|author2=Vaughan Williams, Ralph|title= The English Hymnal with Tunes|publisher=Oxford University Press| year=1906| page=724}}Hymn No. 560 "National Anthem"</ref>

==Use in the United Kingdom==
[[File:It is far better to face the bullets.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Poster of blimp above London at nighttime, with the text "It is far better to face the bullets than to be killed at home by a bomb. Join the army at once & help to stop an air raid. God save the King".|The phrase "God Save the King" in use as a rallying cry to the support of the monarch and the UK's forces during the [[First World War]]]]
[[File:The Royal Navy during the First World War Q17966.jpg|thumb|alt=A group of men in World War I uniforms of the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, some of whom are holding metal pails, standing adjacent to a wooden tub inscribed with "God Save the King". A man scoops liquid from the tub (the rum ration) and pours it into the metal pails, as a Petty Officer looks on from a logbook. They are standing belowdecks on a ship with a low ceiling, with pipes and cables snaking overhead.|Royal Marines and [[Naval rating|bluejackets]] aboard {{HMS|Royal Oak|08|6}} being served their [[rum ration]]s from a rum tub inscribed with "God save the King" (1916)]]

Like many aspects of [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|British constitutional]] life, "God Save the King" derives its official status from custom and use, not from [[royal proclamation]] or [[act of Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/god-save-queen-history-national-anthem|title=God Save the Queen: the History of the National Anthem|access-date=4 May 2023|archive-date=28 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928074626/https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/god-save-queen-history-national-anthem|url-status=live}}</ref> The variation in the UK of the lyrics to "God Save the King" is the oldest among those currently used, and forms the basis on which all other versions used throughout the Commonwealth are formed; though, again, the words have varied over time.

England has no official national anthem of its own; "God Save the King" is treated as the English national anthem when England is represented at sporting events (though there are some exceptions to this rule, such as cricket where "[[And did those feet in ancient time|Jerusalem]]" is used). There is a movement to establish an English national anthem, with [[William Blake]]'s and [[Hubert Parry]]'s "Jerusalem" and [[Edward Elgar]]'s "[[Land of Hope and Glory]]" among the top contenders. Wales has a ''de facto'' national anthem, "[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]" (Land of my Fathers) while Scotland uses unofficial anthems ("[[Scotland the Brave]]" was traditionally used until the 1990s; since then, "[[Flower of Scotland]]" is more commonly used), these anthems are used formally at state and national ceremonies as well as international sporting events such as [[Association football|football]] and [[rugby union]] matches.<ref name = "olympic usage"/> On all occasions in Northern Ireland, "God Save the King" is still used as the official anthem.

In 2001, it was claimed that the phrase "No surrender" was occasionally sung in the bridge before "Send her victorious" by England football fans at matches.<ref name="BackCrabbe2001">{{cite book|author1=Les Back|author2=Tim Crabbe|author3=John Solomos|title=The Changing Face of Football: Racism, Identity and Multiculture in the English Game|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bk-BAAAAMAAJ|access-date=30 March 2013|date=1 November 2001|publisher=Berg Publishers|isbn=978-1-85973-478-0|page=266}}</ref><ref name=IndObit>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/29/english-football-racist-fa-looks-other-way|author=Marina Hyde|title=Race issues (News), FA (Football Association), England football team, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Football, Sport, UK news|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|date=29 March 2013}}</ref>

Since 2003, "God Save the King", considered an all-inclusive anthem for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as other countries within the Commonwealth, has been dropped from the [[Commonwealth Games]]. Northern Irish athletes receive their gold medals to the tune of the "[[Londonderry Air]]", popularly known as "[[Danny Boy]]". In 2006, English winners heard Elgar's [[Pomp and Circumstance Marches|"''Pomp and Circumstance March'' No. 1"]], usually known as "Land of Hope and Glory",<ref>Anthem 4 England – At the 2010 Commonwealth games Blake and Parry's "Jerusalem" was used by the England team [http://anthem4england.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1 Land of Hope and Glory] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507021019/http://anthem4england.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1 |date=7 May 2010 }}</ref> but after a poll conducted by the [[Commonwealth Games Council for England]] prior to the 2010 Games, "Jerusalem" was adopted as England's new Commonwealth Games anthem. In sports in which the UK competes as one nation, most notably as [[Great Britain at the Olympics]], the anthem is used to represent anyone or any team that comes from the United Kingdom.<ref name="olympic usage">{{cite web |access-date=2 February 2008 |url=http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/stories/poem_act/anthems.html |title=National anthems & national songs |publisher=[[British Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120124413/http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/stories/poem_act/anthems.html |archive-date=20 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Lyrics in the UK===
[[File:God Save The King (Royal Exchange 2022).wav|thumb|First verse sung at the Royal Exchange in 2022]]
[[File:Town Hall Stratford.jpg|thumb|[[Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall]] (built 1767), bearing the painted slogan, "God Save the King"]]
The phrase "God Save the King" is much older than the song, appearing, for instance, several times in the [[King James Bible]].<ref>1 Samuel x. 24; 2 Samuel xvi. 16 and 2 Kings xi. 12</ref> [[Zadok the Priest|A text]] based on the [[Books of Kings|1st Book of Kings]] Chapter 1: verses 38–40, "And all the people rejoic'd, and said: God save the King! Long live the King! May the King live for ever, Amen", has been sung and proclaimed at every [[Coronation of the British monarch|coronation]] since that of [[Edgar of England|King Edgar]] in 973.<ref name = "WestminsterAbbey1">{{citation|title=Guide to the Coronation Service|url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/coronations/guide-to-the-coronation-service|access-date=20 August 2009|work=Westminster Abbey website|year=2009|publisher=Dean and Chapter of Westminster|location=London, U.K.|quote=Meanwhile, the choir sings the anthem Zadok the Priest, the words of which (from the first Book of Kings) have been sung at every coronation since King Edgar's in 973. Since the coronation of George II in 1727 the setting by Handel has always been used.|archive-date=5 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205061127/http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/coronations/guide-to-the-coronation-service|url-status=dead}}</ref> Scholes says that as early as 1545, "God Save the King" was a [[watchword]] of the [[Royal Navy]], with the response being "Long to reign over us".<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=William |title=Flag and Fleet: How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the Seas |url=http://www.sakoman.net/pg/html/19849.htm |year=1919 |publisher=Macmillan }} {{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>"The Watchword in the Night shall be, 'God save King Henrye!' The other shall answer, 'Long to raign over Us!'"</ref> He also notes that the prayer read in churches on anniversaries of the [[Gunpowder Plot]] includes words which might have formed part of the basis for the former standard verse "Scatter our enemies...assuage their malice and confound their devices".

In 1745, ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' published "God save our lord the king: A new song set for two voices", describing it "As sung at both Playhouses" (the Theatres Royal at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane]] and [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]]).<ref name="gentsmag">{{cite journal |title=A Song for Two Voices: As sung at both Playhouses |journal=[[The Gentleman's Magazine]] |volume=15 |issue=10 |date=October 1745 |page=552 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iGDPAAAAMAAJ }}</ref> Traditionally, the first performance was thought to have been in 1745, when it was sung in support of [[George II of Great Britain|King George II]] after his defeat at the [[Battle of Prestonpans]] by the army of [[Charles Edward Stuart]], son of [[James Francis Edward Stuart]], the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] claimant to the British throne.

It is sometimes claimed that, ironically, the song was originally sung in support of the Jacobite cause: the word "send" in the line "Send him victorious" could imply that the king was absent. However, the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' cites examples of "[God] send (a person) safe, victorious, etc." meaning "God grant that he may be safe, etc.". There are also examples of early 18th-century drinking glasses which are inscribed with a version of the words and were apparently intended for drinking the health of [[King James II and VII]].

Scholes acknowledges these possibilities but argues that the same words were probably being used by both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporters and directed at their respective kings.<ref name="mwtppa">{{harvnb|Scholes|1970|p=412}}</ref>

In 1902, the musician [[William Hayman Cummings]], quoting mid-18th-century correspondence between [[Charles Burney]] and [[Sir Joseph Banks]], suggested that the words had been based on a Latin verse composed for King James II at the [[Chapel Royal]].
{{Text and translation
|<poem>O Deus optime!
Salvum nunc facito
Regem nostrum;
Sit laeta victoria,
Comes et gloria,
Salvum iam facito,
Tu dominum.<ref>{{cite book |first=William H. |last=Cummings |author-link=William Hayman Cummings |title=God Save the King: the origin and history of the music and words of the national anthem |publisher=Novello & Co. |location=London |year=1902 |page=38}}</ref></poem>
|<poem>O most excellent God
Save our King now;
May joyous victory and glory
Be his companions,
Save our lord now.</poem>}}

====Standard version in the United Kingdom====
[[File:God Save the King - Alan Turner.mp3|thumb|"God Save the King" performed with each of its three verses (originally released on a Victor Record phonograph c. 1910)]]

As the reigning monarch is currently {{Current UK monarch |Charles III}}, the male version of the anthem is used.

''' When the current monarch is male '''
{{poemquote|
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!<ref name="royal family" />}}

When the monarch of the time is female, "King" is replaced with "Queen" and all masculine pronouns are replaced with their feminine equivalents.

There is no definitive version of the lyrics. However, the version consisting of the two above verses has the best claim to be regarded as the "standard" British version as referenced on the Royal Family website.<ref name="royal family">{{cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem |title=National Anthem |publisher=The Royal Family |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424203409/https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref>
The song with an additional verse appears not only in the 1745 ''Gentleman's Magazine'', but also in publications such as ''The Book of English Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century'' (1851),<ref>{{cite book| last=Mackay| first=Charles| title=The Book of English Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century|year= 1851| page=203}}</ref> ''National Hymns: How They Are Written and How They Are Not Written'' (1861),<ref>{{cite book| last=White| first=Richard Grant|title=National Hymns: How They are Written and how They are Not Written| publisher=Rudd & Carleton| year=1861| page=42}}</ref> ''Household Book of Poetry'' (1882),<ref>{{cite book| last=Dana|first=Charles Anderson|title=Household Book of Poetry|year=1882| page=384|url=https://archive.org/details/householdbookpo00danagoog|publisher=Freeport, N.Y., Books for Libraries Press}}</ref> and ''[[Hymns Ancient and Modern]], Revised Version'' (1982).<ref>{{cite book| title=Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised Version| publisher=SCM-Canterbury Press Ltd|year=1982| page=504|isbn=0-907547-06-0}}</ref>

The same version with appears in publications including ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' (1908),<ref>{{cite book| last=Baden-Powell|first=Robert|title=Scouting for Boys| year=1908| page=341}}</ref> and on the Royal Family website.<ref name="royal family"/>

In the UK, the first verse is typically sung alone, even on official occasions, although the second verse is sometimes sung in addition on certain occasions such as during the opening ceremonies of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], [[2012 Summer Paralympics]], and the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]] and usually at the [[Last Night of the Proms]]. The second verse was also sung during the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla|coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla]].

====Standard version of the music====
[[File:God Save The Queen 2007 St Giles Fair.ogg|thumb|right|alt=Church choir sing at fair. A merry-go-round fills most of the background.|"God Save the Queen" sung by the public at [[St Giles' Fair]], [[Oxford]], 2007]]
The standard version of the melody and its key of G major are still those of the originally published version, although the start of the anthem is often signalled by an introductory timpani roll of two bars length. The bass line of the standard version differs little from the second voice part shown in the original, and there is a standard version in four-part harmony for choirs. The first three lines (six bars of music) are soft, ending with a short ''crescendo'' into "Send him victorious", and then is another ''crescendo'' at "over us:" into the final words "God save the King".

In the early-20th century, there existed a military band version in the higher key of B{{music|flat}},<ref>Official versions published by [[Kneller Hall]] Royal Military School of Music</ref> because it was easier for brass instruments to play in that key, though it had the disadvantage of being more difficult to sing; however, now most bands play it in the correct key of concert G.

Since 1953, the anthem is sometimes preceded by a fanfare composed by [[Gordon Jacob]] for the [[coronation of Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Jeffrey|last=Richards|author-link=Jeffrey Richards|title=Imperialism and Music: Britain 1876–1953|publisher=Manchester University Press|year=2002|page=120|isbn=0719045061}}</ref>

=====O Lord Our God Arise=====
An additional stanza sung second was previously considered part of the standard lyrics in the UK:
{{poemquote|
O Lord our God arise
Scatter his enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On thee our hopes we fix
God save us all }}
These lyrics appeared in some works of literature prior the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, but only the version mentioned in the Standard Version in the United Kingdom was used at her Coronation, and ever since on all official occasions when two stanzas have been sung.<ref>Historian [[Barbara W. Tuchman]] refers to this stanza in ''The Zimmermann Telegram'':  "Like God in the British national anthem, Hall was ready to confound the politics and frustrate the knavish tricks of Britain's enemies" (originally published in 1958, this sentence appears on page 16 of the "new edition" published in 1966, which has been reprinted in a Ballantine trade edition that has seen dozens of printings).
</ref>

There have been several attempts to rewrite the words. In the 19th century, there was some lively debate about the national anthem as verse two was considered by some to be slightly offensive in its use of the phrase "scatter her enemies". Some thought it placed better emphasis on the respective power of Parliament and the Crown to change "her enemies" to "our enemies"; others questioned the theology and proposed "thine enemies" instead. Sydney G. R. Coles wrote a completely new version, as did Canon F. K. Harford.{{sfn|Richards|2002|p=91}}

According to Alan Michie's ''The Crown and the People'', which was published in 1952, after the death of [[George VI|King George VI]] but before the coronation of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], when the first [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly of the United Nations]] was held in London in January 1946, the King, in honour of the occasion, "ordered the belligerent imperious second stanza of 'God Save the King' to be rewritten to bring it more into the spirit of the brotherhood of nations."{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Michie |first=Allan A. |title=The Crown and the People |publisher=Secker & Warburg |year=1952 |location=London |pages=160}}</ref>

=====William Hickson's alternative version=====
[[File:St Nicholas, Charlwood, trans-Atlantic congratulations - geograph.org.uk - 3617999.jpg|thumb|The fourth Hickson verse (with "o'er" misspelled as "o're") on a British-American friendship plaque in [[Church of St Nicholas, Charlwood|St Nicholas' Church, Charlwood]], Surrey]]
In 1836, [[William Edward Hickson]] wrote an alternative version, of which the first, third and fourth verses gained some currency when they were appended to the national anthem in ''[[The English Hymnal]]'' (1906). His fourth verse was sung after the traditional first verse at [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II#Golden Jubilee Weekend|Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving]] in 2002, and during the raising of the [[Union Jack|Union Flag]] during the [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony]], in which London took Paralympic flag from Beijing to host the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Summer]] games. This verse is currently used as the final verse by the [[Church of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hickson |first=W. E.|author-link=William Edward Hickson|title=Church Hymnary |date=May 2005 |publisher=Canterbury Press |chapter=Hymn 703 |isbn=978-1-85311-613-1 |edition=4th}}</ref>

{{poemquote|
God bless our native land!
May Heav'n's protecting hand
Still guard our shore:
May peace his power extend,
Foe be transformed to friend,
And Britain's rights depend
On war no more.

O Lord, our monarch bless
With strength and righteousness:
Long may he reign:
His heart inspire and move
With wisdom from above;
And in a nation's love
His throne maintain.

May just and righteous laws
Uphold the public cause,
And bless our Isle:
Home of the brave and free,
Thou land of Liberty,
We pray that still on thee
Kind Heav'n may smile.

Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore:
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be,
And form one family
The wide world o'er.}}

=====Samuel Reynolds Hole's alternative version=====
To mark the celebration of the [[Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria]], a modified version of the second verse was written by the [[Dean of Rochester]], the Very Reverend [[Samuel Hole|Samuel Reynolds Hole]]. A four-part harmony setting was then made by [[Frederick Bridge]], and published by Novello.

{{poemquote|O Lord Our God Arise,
Scatter her enemies,
Make wars to cease;
Keep us from plague and dearth,
Turn thou our woes to mirth;
And over all the earth
Let there be peace.}}

The ''[[Musical Times]]'' commented: "There are some conservative minds who may regret the banishment of the 'knavish tricks' and aggressive spirit of the discarded verse, but it must be admitted that Dean Hole's lines are more consonant with the sentiment of modern Christianity." Others reactions were more negative, one report describing the setting as "unwarrantable liberties...worthy of the severest reprobation", with "too much of a Peace Society flavour about it...If we go about pleading for peace, other nations will get it into their heads that we are afraid of fighting." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hole's version failed to replace the existing verse permanently.<ref>A rare performance of Hole's verse was given in the 1956 Edinburgh Festival, by Sir Thomas Beecham and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus; on this occasion the musical setting was by Edward Elgar, with Hole's verse supplanting the traditional second verse Elgar had set.</ref>{{sfn|Richards|2002|p={{page needed|date=June 2023}}}}<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 3367016|title = Extra Supplement: God save the Queen|journal=[[The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular]]|volume = 38|issue = 651|pages = 1–4|last1 = Bridge|first1 = J. Frederick|last2 = Hole|first2 = S. Reynolds|year = 1897}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3582493/3582497|title=Carmarthen under the Search-Light|date=2 July 1897|work=[[Carmarthen Weekly Reporter]]|via=[[Welsh Newspapers Online]]|access-date=26 June 2019|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626215004/https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3582493/3582497|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====Official peace version=====
A less militaristic version of the song, titled "Official peace version, 1919", was first published in the [[hymn]] book ''Songs of Praise'' in 1925.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dearmer |first1=Percy|last2=Vaughan Williams |first2=Ralph |title=Songs of Praise|publisher=Oxford University Press| year=1925}}</ref> This was "official" in the sense that it was approved by the [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|British Privy Council]] in 1919.<ref name="mwtppa" /> However, despite being reproduced in some other hymn books, it is largely unknown today.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/forgotten-national-anthem-sung-halesowen-service/story-20123427-detail/story.html |title=Forgotten National Anthem Sung at Halesowen Service |work=Black Country Bugle |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=20 January 2017}} {{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Source describes it as an "unusual and little known version of the national anthem ... taken from the order of service for the blessing of Halesowen's borough charter ... on Sunday, 20 September 1936."</ref>
{{poemquote|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!

One realm of races four{{efn|Referring to the [[English people|English]], [[Irish people|Irish]]/[[Northern Irish people|Northern Irish]], [[Scots people|Scots]] and [[Welsh people|Welsh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1701880/full_content|website=Daily Kos|title="This National Anthem Thing - View from a country with no anthem, or 4, 5 or 6 or one nobody sings."|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=19 October 2024|archive-date=30 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130141817/https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1701880/full_content|url-status=live}}</ref>}}  
Blest more and ever more
God save our land!
Home of the brave and free
Set in the silver sea
True nurse of chivalry
God save our land!

Of many a race and birth
From utmost ends of earth
God save us all!
Bid strife and hatred cease
Bid hope and joy increase
Spread universal peace
God save us all!
|title=|source=}}

====Historic Jacobite and anti-Jacobite alternative verses====
Around 1745 anti-[[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] sentiment was captured in a verse appended to the song, with a prayer for the success of Field Marshal [[George Wade]]'s army then assembling at [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]. These words attained some short-term use, although they did not appear in the published version in the October 1745 ''Gentleman's Magazine''. This verse was first documented as an occasional addition to the original anthem by [[Richard Clark (musician)|Richard Clark]] in 1814,<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Clark |editor-first=Richard |editor-link=Richard Clark (musician) |date=1814 |title=The Words of the Most Favourite Pieces, Performed at the Glee Club, the Catch Club, and Other Public Societies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GoZKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR13 |publication-place=London |publisher=printed by the Philanthropic Society for the editor |page=xiii}}</ref> and was also mentioned in a later article on the song, published by the ''Gentleman's Magazine'' in October 1836. Therein, it is presented as an "additional verse... though being of temporary application only... stored in the memory of an old friend... who was born in the very year 1745, and was thus the associate of those who heard it first sung", the lyrics given being:<ref name=clark>{{cite book|last=Clark|first=Richard |author-link=Richard Clark (musician) |title=An Account of the National Anthem Entitled God Save the King!|year=1822|publisher=W. Wright|location=London|pages=8–9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Py5DAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA8}}</ref>

{{poemquote|Lord, grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring;
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush!
God save the King!}}

The 1836 article and other sources make it clear that this verse was quickly abandoned after 1745 (Wade was replaced as Commander-in-Chief within a year following the Jacobite invasion of England), and it was certainly not used when the song became accepted as the British national anthem in the 1780s and 1790s.<ref>{{harvnb|Richards|2002|page=90}} "A fourth verse was briefly in vogue at the time of the rebellion, but was rapidly abandoned thereafter: God grant that Marshal Wade...etc"</ref><ref>"The history of God Save the King", ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]'', vol. 6 (new series), 1836, [https://archive.org/details/sim_gentlemans-magazine_1836-10_6/page/372/mode/2up p. 373]. "There is an additional verse... though being of temporary application only, it was but short-lived...[but]...it was stored in the memory of an old friend of my own... 'Oh! grant that Marshal Wade... etc.'"</ref> It was included as an integral part of the song in the ''Oxford Book of Eighteenth-Century Verse'' of 1926, although erroneously referencing the "fourth verse" to the ''Gentleman's Magazine'' article of 1745.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=3835950|title=The Oxford Book of Eighteenth-Century Verse|archive-date=4 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604055932/http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=3835950|url-status=dead}}{{ISBN?}}</ref>

On the opposing side, Jacobite beliefs were demonstrated in an alternative verse used during the same period:<ref>{{cite book| last=Groom|first=Nick|title=The Union Jack: the Story of the British Flag| publisher=Atlantic Books|year=2006 | pages=Appendix|isbn=1-84354-336-2|no-pp=true}}</ref>

{{poemquote|God bless the prince, I pray,
God bless the prince, I pray,
[[Charles Edward Stuart|Charlie]] I mean;
That Scotland we may see
Freed from vile [[Presbyterianism|Presbyt'ry]],
Both [[George II of Great Britain|George]] and his [[Frederick, Prince of Wales|Feckie]],
Ever so, Amen.}}

In May 1800, following an attempt to assassinate [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]], in London, the playwright [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan|Richard Sheridan]] immediately composed an additional verse, which was sung from the stage the same night:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?objectid=1467537&partid=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414103002/http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?objectid=1467537&partid=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2013|title=The horrid assassin Is Hatfield, attempting to shoot the king in Drury Lane Theatre- on the 15th of May, 1800|publisher=British Museum|access-date=10 August 2012}} </ref><ref>{{cite book| last=Ford|first=Franklin L.|title=Political Murder: From Tyrannicide to Terrorism| publisher=Harvard University Press| year=1985| page=207|isbn=0-674-68636-5}}</ref>

{{poemquote|From every latent foe
From the assassin's blow
God save the King
O'er him Thine arm extend
For Britain's sake defend
Our father, king, and friend
God save the King!}}

Various other attempts were made during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to add verses to commemorate particular royal or national events. For example, according to Fitzroy Maclean, when Jacobite forces bypassed Wade's force and reached [[Derby]], but then retreated and when their garrison at [[Carlisle Castle]] surrendered to a second government army led by King George's son, the [[William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland|Duke of Cumberland]], another verse was added.<ref name="fn_1">{{cite book| last=Maclean|first=Fitzroy|title=Bonnie Prince Charlie|publisher=Canongate Books Ltd.|year=1989 | isbn=0-86241-568-3}} Note that the verse he quotes appears to have a line missing.</ref> Other short-lived verses were notably anti-French, such as the following, quoted in the book ''Handel'' by Edward J. Dent:<ref>See: [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9089 etext 9089 at Project Gutenberg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905163932/http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9089 |date=5 September 2020 }} and [https://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/Handel2/#p35 p35 at FullTextArchive.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021065949/http://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/Handel2/#p35 |date=21 October 2018 }}</ref>
{{poemquote|From France and Pretender
Great Britain defend her,
Foes let them fall;
From foreign slavery,
Priests and their knavery,
And Popish Reverie,
God save us all.}}

However, none of these additional verses survived into the 20th century.{{sfn|Richards|2002|p=90}} Updated "full" versions including additional verses have been published more recently, including the standard three verses, Hickson's fourth verse, Sheridan's verse and the [[Marshal Wade]] verse.<ref>{{cite news|title=God Save the Queen – lyrics|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/1571287/God-Save-the-Queen-lyrics.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=9 August 2012|location=London|date=3 June 2012|archive-date=30 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730053708/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/1571287/God-Save-the-Queen-lyrics.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Should Welsh Olympics 2012 stars sing God Save the Queen anthem?|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2012/07/27/should-welsh-olympics-2012-stars-sing-god-save-the-queen-91466-31487133/|publisher=Wales Online|access-date=9 August 2012|date=27 July 2012|archive-date=2 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802155503/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2012/07/27/should-welsh-olympics-2012-stars-sing-god-save-the-queen-91466-31487133/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Historic republican alternative====
A version from 1794 composed by the American republican and French citizen [[Joel Barlow]]<ref>[https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8410734 A song. Tune-"God save the guillotine"] {{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, stanford.edu catalogue</ref> celebrated the power of the [[guillotine]] to liberate:<ref name="poetrywars">{{cite book|last1=Wells|first1=C|title=Poetry Wars: Verse and Politics in the American Revolution and Early Republic|date=2017|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated|isbn=9780812249651|pages=138–139|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rmI3DwAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=God Save the Guillotine (пародия на God Save the King, текст)|url=https://18century-ru.livejournal.com/1777.html|date=16 May 2004|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=31 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531223238/https://18century-ru.livejournal.com/1777.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{poemquote|God save the Guillotine
Till England's King and Queen
:Her power shall prove:
Till each appointed knob
Affords a clipping job
Let no vile halter rob
:''The Guillotine''

France, let thy trumpet sound –
Tell all the world around
How [[House of Capet|Capet]] fell;
And when great [[George III of the United Kingdom|George]]'s poll
Shall in the basket roll,
Let mercy then control
:''The Guillotine''

When all the sceptre'd crew
Have paid their Homage, due
:''The Guillotine''
Let Freedom's flag advance
Till all the world, like France
O'er tyrants' graves shall dance
:And peace begin.}}

===Performance in the UK===
The style most commonly heard in official performances was proposed as the "proper interpretation" by King [[George V]], who considered himself something of an expert (in view of the number of times he had heard it). An Army Order was duly issued in 1933, which laid down regulations for tempo, dynamics and orchestration. This included instructions such as that the opening "six bars will be played quietly by the reed band with horns and basses in a single phrase. Cornets and side-drum are to be added at the little scale-passage leading into the second half of the tune, and the full brass enters for the last eight bars". The official tempo for the opening section is a metronome setting of 60, with the second part played in a broader manner, at a metronome setting of 52.{{sfn|Scholes|1970|p={{page needed|date=June 2023}}}} In recent years the prescribed sombre-paced introduction is often played at a faster and livelier [[tempo]].

Until the latter part of the 20th century, theatre and concert goers were expected to stand while the anthem was played after the conclusion of a show. In cinemas this brought a tendency for audiences to rush out while the end credits played to avoid this formality. (This can be seen in the 1972 ''[[Dad's Army]]'' episode "[[A Soldier's Farewell]]".)

The anthem continues to be played at some traditional events such as [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]], [[Royal Variety Performance]], the [[Edinburgh Tattoo]], [[Royal Ascot]], [[Henley Royal Regatta]] and [[The Proms]] as well as at royal events.

The anthem was traditionally played at close-down on the [[BBC]], and with the introduction of commercial television to the UK this practice was adopted by some [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] companies (with the notable exceptions of [[Granada Television|Granada]], [[Thames Television]], [[ITV Central|Central Television]], [[ITV Border|Border Television]] and [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]]). [[BBC Two]] also never played the anthem at close-down, and ITV dropped the practice in the late 1980s when the network switched to 24 hour broadcasting, but it continued on [[BBC One]] until 8 November 1997 (thereafter BBC One began to [[simulcast]] with [[BBC News]] after end of programmes). The tradition is carried on, however, by [[BBC Radio 4]], which plays the anthem each night as a transition piece between the end of the Radio 4 broadcasting and the move to [[BBC World Service]].<ref name="Guardian on Radio 4">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2010/mar/17/radio-4-national-anthem |title=Radio 4 keeps flying the flag| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| date=17 March 2010| access-date=9 March 2013| location=London}}</ref> BBC Radio 4 and [[BBC Radio 2]] also play the National Anthem just before the 0700 and 0800 news bulletins on the actual and [[King's Official Birthday|official]] birthdays of the King and the birthdays of senior members of the [[Royal Family]]. On 17 January 2022 [[GB News]] started playing the anthem at 05:59 every morning at the beginning of the day's programming.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin-Pavitt |first1=Ross |title=GB News plays national anthem every morning to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee year |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/gb-news-national-anthem-queen-v50f3215d |access-date=2 February 2022 |agency=The Independent |date=18 January 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004641/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/gb-news-national-anthem-queen-v50f3215d |url-status=live }}</ref>

The UK's national anthem usually prefaces the [[royal Christmas message]] (although in 2007 it appeared at the end, taken from a recording of the 1957 television broadcast), and important royal announcements, such as of royal deaths, when it is played in a slower, sombre arrangement.

====Performance in Lancashire====
{{Main|Long live our noble Duke }}

===Other British anthems===
Frequently, when an anthem is needed for one of the constituent [[countries of the United Kingdom]]{{spaced ndash}} at an international sporting event, for instance{{spaced ndash}} an alternative song is used:
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NOTE ON GRAMMAR:
Standard British English usage is to refer to sports teams in the plural form, unlike in American English (as in "Manchester United are sitting at the top of the Premier League" not "Manchester United is..."). The same applies to national teams: "England are playing well".

-->
* England generally uses "God Save the King", but "[[And did those feet in ancient time|Jerusalem]]", "[[Rule, Britannia!]]" and "[[Land of Hope and Glory]]" have also been used.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/theater/20time.html?ref=arts| work=[[The New York Times]]| title=Time, and the Green and Pleasant Land| first=Ben| last=Brantley| author-link=Ben Brantley| date=20 July 2009| access-date=23 April 2010| archive-date=19 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219034205/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/theater/20time.html?ref=arts| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.britannia.com/history/rulebrit.html Britannia History – Rule Britannia!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213064136/http://britannia.com/history/rulebrit.html |date=13 December 2010 }} Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
** At international [[test cricket]] matches, [[England cricket team|England]] has, since 2004, used "Jerusalem" as the anthem.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4217144.stm Sing Jerusalem for England!]  ''[[BBC Sport]]'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
** At international [[rugby league]] matches, [[England national rugby league team|England]] uses "God Save the King" and also "Jerusalem".<ref>[http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/jerusalem/biography/sir-hubert-parry Hubert Parry: The Composer – Icons of England] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809003129/http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/jerusalem/biography/sir-hubert-parry |date=9 August 2011 }} Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
** At international [[rugby union]] and [[association football|football]] matches, England uses "God Save the King".<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/4857268.stm Home nations fans 'back England']  ''BBC Sport'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
** At the [[Commonwealth Games]], [[Commonwealth Games England|Team England]] uses "Jerusalem" as their victory anthem.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9064469.stm Commonwealth Games 2010: England stars discuss Jerusalem]  ''BBC Sport'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
* Scotland uses "[[Flower of Scotland]]" as their anthem for most sporting occasions.<ref>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/flower-of-scotland-1.568214 Flower of Scotland] ''The Herald'' (13 July 1990) Retrieved 26 February 2011 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* Wales uses "[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]" ("Land of My Fathers") for governmental ceremonies and sporting occasions. At official occasions, especially those with royal connections, "God Save the King" is also played.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120118201956/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/andyhooper/8745727/Land_of_My_Fathers_v_La_Marseillaise_Clash_of_rugbys_greatest_anthems/ Land of My Fathers v La Marseillaise: Clash of rugby's greatest anthems] ''The Daily Telegraph'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
* Northern Ireland uses "God Save the King" as its national anthem. However, many [[Irish nationalism|Irish nationalists]] feel unrepresented by the British anthem and seek an alternative.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/poll-should-god-save-the-queen-be-dropped-for-northern-ireland-sports-events-and-what-could-replace-it-34364464.html|title=Poll: Should God Save the Queen be dropped for Northern Ireland sports events – and what could replace it? – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|newspaper=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625174831/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/poll-should-god-save-the-queen-be-dropped-for-northern-ireland-sports-events-and-what-could-replace-it-34364464.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Northern Ireland also uses the "[[Londonderry Air]]" as its victory anthem at the [[Commonwealth Games]].<ref>Tara Magdalinski, Timothy Chandler (2002) [https://books.google.com/books?id=R7irTNe2UlMC&dq=londonderry+air+commonwealth+games&pg=PA24 ''With God on Their Side: Sport in the Service of Religion''] p. 24. Routledge, 2002</ref> When sung, the "Londonderry Air" has the lyrics to "[[Danny Boy]]". At international [[rugby union]] matches, where Northern Irish players compete alongside those from the [[Republic of Ireland]] as part of an [[All-Ireland]] team, "[[Ireland's Call]]" is used.
* The [[British and Irish Lions]] rugby union tour of 2005 used the song "[[The Power of Four]]", but this experiment has not been repeated.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4572933.stm Sing when you're winning]  ''BBC Sport'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>
The London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony provided a conscious use of three of the four anthems listed above; the ceremony began with a rendition of the first verse of "Jerusalem", before a choir in Northern Ireland sang "Danny Boy" and a choir in Edinburgh performed part of "Flower of Scotland". Notably, Wales was represented by the hymn "[[Bread of Heaven]]", not "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadhau".

In April 2007 there was an [[early day motion]], number 1319, to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] to propose that there should be a separate England anthem: "That this House ... believes that all English sporting associations should adopt an appropriate song that English sportsmen and women, and the English public, would favour when competing as England". An amendment (EDM 1319A3) was proposed by [[Evan Harris]] of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] that the song "should have a bit more oomph than ''God Save The Queen'' and should also not involve God."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33094&SESSION=885| title=Parliamentary Information Management Services. Early day Motion 1319| publisher=Edmi.parliament.uk| access-date=12 February 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031005247/http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33094&SESSION=885| archive-date=31 October 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref>

For more information see also:
* [[National anthem of England]]
* [[National anthem of Scotland]]
* [[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]
* [[National anthem of Northern Ireland]]

===Use in media===
On 3 November 2016, [[Andrew Rosindell]], a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] MP, argued in an [[early day motion]] for a return to the broadcasting of the national anthem at the end of [[BBC One]] transmissions each day (the practice had been dropped in 1997, due to BBC One adopting 24-hour broadcasting by simulcasting [[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News 24]] overnight, rendering [[closedown]] obsolete),<ref>{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=Laura|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/03/tory-mp-calls-for-bbc-1-to-mark-brexit-with-national-anthem-at-t/|title=Tory MP calls for BBC 1 to mark Brexit with national anthem at the end of each day|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 November 2016|access-date=3 November 2016|archive-date=3 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103094333/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/03/tory-mp-calls-for-bbc-1-to-mark-brexit-with-national-anthem-at-t/|url-status=live}}</ref> to commemorate the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Brexit vote]] and [[Brexit|Britain's subsequent withdrawing]] from the [[European Union]]. At the evening of the same day, [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[Newsnight]]'' programme ended its nightly broadcast with host of that night, [[Kirsty Wark]], saying that they were "incredibly happy to oblige" Rosindell's request, and then played a clip of the [[Sex Pistols]]' [[God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song)|similarly named song]], much to Rosindell's discontent.<ref name="metro-gstq-troll">{{cite news | url = http://metro.co.uk/2016/11/04/bbc-just-trolled-a-conservative-mp-brilliantly-with-god-save-the-queen-6234486/ | title = BBC just trolled a conservative MP brilliantly with God Save the Queen | first = Simon | last = Robb | newspaper = [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] | date = 4 November 2016 | access-date = 4 November 2016 | archive-date = 4 November 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204428/http://metro.co.uk/2016/11/04/bbc-just-trolled-a-conservative-mp-brilliantly-with-god-save-the-queen-6234486/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

Since 18 January 2022, [[GB News]] has played the national anthem at the start of live programming every day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meighan |first1=Craig |title=GB News announces it will play God Save The Queen every single day |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19854142.gb-news-announces-will-play-god-save-queen-every-single-day/ |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]] |location=Glasgow |date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=29 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129123847/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19854142.gb-news-announces-will-play-god-save-queen-every-single-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Demianyk |first1=Graeme |title=Tories Celebrate GB News Playing 'God Save The Queen' Every Morning |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gb-news-god-save-the-queen_uk_61e5cc6de4b0c6802eea7465 |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=[[HuffPost UK]] |date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126094806/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gb-news-god-save-the-queen_uk_61e5cc6de4b0c6802eea7465 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Use in other Commonwealth countries==
"God Save the King" was exported around the world via the expansion of the [[British Empire]], serving as each country's national anthem. Throughout the [[Commonwealth of Nations#History|Empire's evolution]] into the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the song declined in use in most states which became independent. In New Zealand, it remains one of the official national anthems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.govt.nz/exhibitions/currentexhibitions/makingourmark/index.php?page=anthem&image=25 |title=Letter from Buckingham Palace to the Governor-General of New Zealand |access-date=3 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004152/http://www.archives.govt.nz/exhibitions/currentexhibitions/makingourmark/index.php?page=anthem&image=25 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}} – Royal assent that the two songs should have equal status</ref>

===Antigua and Barbuda===

Contrary to popular belief, "God Save The King" is not the royal anthem of Antigua and Barbuda in practice or officially. As of August 2025, there is no legislation in Antigua and Barbuda establishing a royal anthem, and during a royal visit in 2017, members of the royal family were greeted by the ''[[de facto]]'' national anthem "[[Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee]]". The Governor-General is also greeted by "Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee" in all formal circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuffy |first=Alex |date=2024-07-09 |title=Anthems of Antigua and Barbuda |url=https://www.axarplex.com/items/anthems-of-antigua-and-barbuda |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Axarplex |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjLqI8MzJw4 |title=The Arrival of the Governor General of Antigua & Barbuda |date=2008-11-29 |last=paulous3 |access-date=2025-07-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfOaIDK4dIQ |title='Formal but fun': Prince Harry arrives in Antigua for Caribbean tour |date=2016-11-21 |last=The Royal Family Channel |access-date=2025-07-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIG-T9efXsA |title=Prince Harry visits Antigua and Barbuda |date=2016-11-25 |last=AP Archive |access-date=2025-07-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

===Australia===
{{Further|Advance Australia Fair#History}}
In Australia "God Save the King" was declared as the royal anthem on 27 October 2022, replacing the previous declaration of "God Save the Queen" as the royal anthem on 19 April 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 October 2022 |title=Proclamation - Royal Anthem |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2022G01107/asmade/text |website=Federal Registrar of Legislation |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |id=C2022G01107}}</ref> It declares that the song is to played when the [[Monarchy of Australia|monarch]] or a member of the royal family is present. The [[Australian Government]] also advises that when the King is in Australia, the royal anthem is played at the beginning of an event and the national anthem, "[[Advance Australia Fair]]", is to be played at the end.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Australian National Anthem |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/australian-national-symbols/australian-national-anthem |access-date=24 September 2024 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=19 January 2022 |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |archive-date=27 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027193111/https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/australian-national-symbols/australian-national-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to 1974, "God Save the Queen" was the national anthem of Australia. It was replaced that year with "Advance Australia Fair" by the Labor [[Whitlam government]]. Following the elevation of the Liberal [[Fraser government]], "God Save the Queen" was restored as the national anthem in 1976 alongside three other "national songs". A [[1977 Australian plebiscite (National Song)|plebiscite held in 1977]] preferred "Advance Australia Fair" as the exclusive "national song", to exist alongside the national anthem of "God Save the Queen". The subsequent Labor [[Hawke government]] later advised the proclamation of "Advance Australia Fair" as the national anthem in 1984, with "God Save the Queen" redesignated as the royal anthem.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Curran |first1=James |title=The Unknown Nation: Australia After Empire |last2=Ward |first2=Stuart |date=2010 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |isbn=978-0-522-85645-3 |location=Carlton, Vic |chapter=Chapter 5. 'God Save Australia's Fair Matilda': Songs}}</ref>

===Belize===

"God Save the King" is the royal anthem of Belize.<ref name="The World Factbook">{{citation |title=The World Factbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAv6-0rGsW8C |page=79 |year=2012 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |isbn=9780160911422}}</ref> The viceregal salute to the [[Governor-General of Belize|Belizean governor-general]] is composed of the first verse of "God Save the King" and the chorus of national anthem, "[[Land of the Free (anthem)|Land of the Free]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=New Governor-General takes office: 'I will build bridges'|date=27 May 2021|url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2021/05/27/new-governor-general-take-office-i-will-build-bridges/|work=Breaking Belize News}}</ref>

===Canada===
{{Further|Canadian royal symbols#Verbal and musical symbols|Canadian patriotic music}}
[[File:O Canada and God Save the King instrumental 1927.ogg|thumb|right|Percival Price performs "[[O Canada]]" and "God Save the King" on the [[Peace Tower]] [[Carillon]], 1927.]]
By [[Convention (norm)|convention]]<ref name=DCH>{{cite web| url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/godsave-eng.cfm| last=Department of Canadian Heritage| author-link=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > Royal anthem "God Save the Queen"| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504164202/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/godsave-eng.cfm| archive-date=4 May 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> "God Save the King" ({{langx|fr|link=no|Dieu Sauve le Roi}}, {{lang|fr|Dieu Sauve la Reine}} when a Queen) is the royal anthem of Canada.<ref>{{Citation |last=MacLeod |first=Kevin S. |author-link=Kevin S. MacLeod |title=A Crown of Maples |place=Ottawa |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |year=2008 |edition=1 |page=54, I |url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/fr-rf/crnCdn/crn_mpls-eng.pdf |isbn=978-0-662-46012-1 |access-date=21 June 2009 |archive-date=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327083452/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/fr-rf/crnCdn/crn_mpls-eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=CE>{{Cite encyclopedia|last=Kallmann|first=Helmut|author-link=Helmut Kallmann|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|title=National and royal anthems| editor-last=Marsh| editor-first=James Harley|editor-link=James Harley Marsh| place=Toronto| publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada| url=http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002533| access-date=25 June 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010193142/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002533 | archive-date=10 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://lt.gov.ns.ca/en/royal-salute.aspx| last=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia| author-link=Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia| title=History of the Lieutenant Governor > Royal Salute > Royal Salute (Formerly known as the Vice-Regal Salute)| publisher=Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia| access-date=25 June 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430134828/http://lt.gov.ns.ca/en/royal-salute.aspx| archive-date=30 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia| encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]| title=O Canada| editor-last=Hoiberg| editor-first=Dale| editor-link=Dale Hoiberg| url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/423313/O-Canada| access-date=25 June 2010| archive-date=17 January 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117114620/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/423313/O-Canada| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| last=Citizenship and Immigration Canada| author-link=Citizenship and Immigration Canada| title=Discover Canada| place=Ottawa| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| year=2009| page=2| url=http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/discover.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122160954/http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/discover.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2009 |url-status=live| isbn=978-1-100-12739-2| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> It is sometimes played or sung together with the national anthem, "[[O Canada]]", at private and public events organised by groups such as the [[Government of Canada]], the [[Royal Canadian Legion]], police services and loyal groups.<ref>{{citation| title=Alberta Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Day 2009 Order of Service| publisher=Queen's Printer for Alberta| date=27 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/df1-eng.cfm| last=Department of Canadian Heritage| author-link=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > The National Flag of Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=5 July 2010| archive-date=20 December 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220110103/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/df1-eng.cfm| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legion.ca/Home/Remday_e.cfm| last=Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command| title=National Remembrance Day Ceremony| date=4 November 2009| publisher=Royal Canadian Legion| access-date=5 July 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312022146/http://legion.ca/Home/Remday_e.cfm | archive-date=12 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=partner/2009-1/nova-scotia| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419054436/http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=partner/2009-1/nova-scotia| url-status=dead| archive-date=19 April 2013| last=Department of Veterans Affairs| author-link=Veterans Affairs Canada| title=Canada Remembers > Partnering Opportunities > Community Engagement Partnership Fund > Nova Scotia > Community Engagement Partnership Fund: Nova Scotia| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url=http://www.bccns.com/assets/pdfs/william_hall_stamp.pdf| title=Remembrance Day| date=11 November 2009| publisher=Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation| access-date=5 July 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707215802/http://www.bccns.com/assets/pdfs/william_hall_stamp.pdf| archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> The [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]] and provincial lieutenant governors are accorded the "Viceregal Salute", comprising the first three lines of "God Save the King", followed by the first and last lines of "O Canada".<ref>{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1452187404946| title=Honours and Salutes| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=4 March 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305120159/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1452187404946| archive-date=5 March 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref>

"God Save the King" has been sung in Canada since the late 1700s and by the mid-20th century was, along with "O Canada", one of the country's two {{lang|la|de facto}} national anthems, the first and last verses of the standard British version being used.<ref name=QHE>{{Cite book| last=Bélanger| first=Claude| contribution=The Quebec History Encyclopedia| title=National Anthem of Canada| editor-last=Marianopolis College| place=Montreal| publisher=Marianopolis College| url=http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/Anthem.htm| access-date=5 July 2010| archive-date=19 September 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919114337/http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/Anthem.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> By-laws and practices governing the use of either song during public events in municipalities varied; in Toronto, "God Save the King" was employed, while in [[Montreal]] it was "O Canada". Prime Minister [[Lester B. Pearson]] in 1964 said one song would have to be chosen as the country's national anthem and, three years later, he advised Governor General [[Georges Vanier]] to appoint the Special Joint Committee of the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] and [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] on the National and Royal Anthems. Within two months, on 12 April 1967, the committee presented its conclusion that "God Save the Queen" (as this was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II), whose music and lyrics were found to be in the [[public domain]],<ref name=DCHOCanada>{{cite web| url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/anthem-eng.cfm| last=Department of Canadian Heritage| author-link=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=National Anthem: O Canada > Parliamentary Action| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=29 June 2010| archive-date=15 May 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515113519/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/anthem-eng.cfm| url-status=dead}}</ref> should be designated as the royal anthem of Canada and "O Canada" as the national anthem, one verse from each, in [[Official bilingualism in Canada|both official languages]], to be adopted by parliament. The group was then charged with establishing official lyrics for each song; for "God Save the Queen", the English words were those inherited from the United Kingdom and the French words were taken from those that had been adopted in 1952 for the [[coronation of Elizabeth II]].<ref name=CE /> When the bill pronouncing "O Canada" as the national anthem was put through parliament, the joint committee's earlier recommendations regarding "God Save the Queen" were not included.<ref name=DCHOCanada />

The [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]] and the [[Canadian Forces]] regulates that "God Save the King" be played as a salute to the [[Monarchy of Canada|monarch of Canada]] and other members of the [[Monarchy of Canada#Royal family and house|Canadian royal family]],<ref name=DND>{{Citation|last=Department of National Defence |author-link=Department of National Defence (Canada) |title=The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces |page=503 |place=Ottawa |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |date=1 April 1999 |url=http://www.saskd.ca/heritage.pdf |id=A-AD-200-000/AG-000 |access-date=30 October 2009 |ref=CITEREF_Department_of_National_Defence_1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325162006/http://www.saskd.ca/heritage.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref> though it may also be used as a hymn or prayer. The words are not to be sung when the song is played as a military royal salute and is abbreviated to the first three lines, while arms are being presented.<ref name=DND /> Elizabeth II stipulated that the arrangement in G major by Lieutenant Colonel Basil H. Brown be used in Canada. The authorised version to be played by [[pipe band]]s is ''Mallorca''.<ref name=DND />

====Lyrics in Canada====
"God Save the King" has been translated into French,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/fr/patrimoine-canadien/services/symboles-titres-royaux/hymne-royal.html |title=Hymne royal " Dieu protège le Roi " on Canadian Heritage site |date=11 August 2017 |language=fr |access-date=9 September 2022 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908194553/https://www.canada.ca/fr/patrimoine-canadien/services/symboles-titres-royaux/hymne-royal.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but this translation does not fit the music and cannot be sung. Nevertheless, this translation has been adapted into a bilingual version that can be sung when the monarch is male, and has been sung during public ceremonies, such as the National [[Remembrance Day]] Ceremony at the [[National War Memorial (Canada)|National War Memorial]] in [[Ottawa]]:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LHreZKKI4k&t=35s |title=God Save the King (2022 bilingual version) |website=[[YouTube]] |agency=Cable Public Affairs Channel |date=12 November 2022 |language=en,fr |access-date=27 December 2022 |time=2:14}}</ref>

{{poemquote|{{lang|fr|i=unset|Dieu sauve notre Roi,
Notre gracieux Roi,
Vive le Roi!}}
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious;
Long to reign over us,
God save the King!}}

A special singable one-verse adaptation<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/organisation/publications-guides/decouvrir-canada/lisez-ligne/symboles-canadiens.html |title=Découvrir le Canada – Les symboles canadiens|website=Canada.ca |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}</ref> is used when a singable French version is required, such as when royalty is present at an official occasion:
{{lang|fr|i=unset|{{poemquote|Dieu sauve notre Roi<!--notre Reine-->!
Notre gracieux Roi!
Vive le Roi<!--le Reine-->!
Rends-lui victorieux,
Heureux et glorieux,
Que soit long son règne sur nous,
Vive le Roi<!--le Reine-->!}}}}

There is a special Canadian verse in English which was once commonly sung in addition to the two standing verses:<ref name=QHE />
{{poemquote|Our loved Dominion bless
With peace and happiness
From shore to shore;
And let our Empire be
Loyal, united, free,
True to herself and Thee
For evermore.}}

===Channel Islands===
"God Save the King" is used by both Bailiwicks of the [[Channel Islands]] as an alternative to their respective national anthems. Its use case and popular version is generally similar to how it is used in the United Kingdom. However, the anthem has been translated in [[Jèrriais]]:<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lempière|first=Raoul|title=Customs, Ceremonies and Traditions of the Channel Islands|publisher=Robert Hale|year=1976|isbn=0-7091-5731-2|location=Great Britain}}</ref>{{Rp|35}}

{{lang|nrf|i=unset|{{poem quote|Dgieu sauve not' Duc,
Longue vie à not' Duc,
Dgieu sauve la Rei!
Rends-la victorieuse
Jouaiyeuse et glorieuse;
Qu'on règne sus nous heûtheuse –
Dgieu sauve la Rei!

Tes dons les pus précieux,
Sus yi vèrse des cieux,
Dgieu sauve la Rei!
Qu'on défende nous louais
Et d'un tchoeu et d'eune vouaix
Jé chantons à janmais
Dgieu sauve la Rei!}}}}

The meaning is broadly similar to the first paragraph of the English version, except for the first two lines which say "God save our [[Sovereign in right of the Bailiwick of Jersey|Duke]]" and "Long live our Duke".

===New Zealand===
{{further|National anthems of New Zealand}}
New Zealand inherited "God Save the King" as its anthem, which served as the sole national anthem until 1977, when "[[God Defend New Zealand]]" was introduced as a second. Since then, "God Save the King" is most often only played when the sovereign, [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general]]<ref name=cryer>{{cite web|url=http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/Hear_Our_Voices-_We_Entreat.html|publisher=Exisle Publishing|author=Max Cryer|title=Hear Our Voices, We Entreat—''The Extraordinary Story of New Zealand's National Anthems''|access-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425123743/http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/Hear_Our_Voices-_We_Entreat.html|archive-date=25 April 2013|url-status=dead|author-link=Max Cryer}}</ref> or other member of the Royal Family is present, or on some occasions such as [[Anzac Day]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/anthem/index.html| title=New Zealand's National Anthems| publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage| access-date=17 February 2008| archive-date=24 April 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424065003/http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=AnthemProtocol>{{cite web| url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/anthem/proto-cols.html| title=Protocol for using New Zealand's National Anthems| publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage| access-date=17 February 2008| archive-date=24 April 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424065003/http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems| url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Māori language|Māori-language]] version was written by [[Edward Marsh Williams]] under the title, "{{lang|mi|E te atua tohungia te kuini}}".<ref name="te reo">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Derby |first1=Mark |title='God save the Queen' in te reo Māori |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/music/45243/god-save-the-queen-in-te-reo-maori |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=1 February 2019 |date=22 October 2014}}</ref>

There is a special New Zealand verse in English which was once commonly sung to replace the second and third verses:<ref name=history-god-save-queen>{{cite web| url=https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/history-god-save-queen| title=History of God Save the Queen| publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage| access-date=29 December 2018| archive-date=29 December 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229220405/https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/history-god-save-queen| url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{poem quote|Not on this land alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore.
Lord, make the nations see
That we in liberty
Should form one family
The wide world o'er.}}

====Lyrics in Māori====
All verses of "God Save the King" have been translated into the Māori language.<ref name="te reo"/> The first verse is shown below:
{{lang|mi|i=unset|{{poem quote|Me tohu e te Atua
To matou Kīngi pai:
Kia ora ia
Meinga kia maia ia,
Kia hari nui, kia koa,
Kia kingi tonu ia,
Tau tini noa.}}}}

===Rhodesia===
When [[Rhodesia]] issued its [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|Unilateral Declaration of Independence]] from the UK on 11 November 1965, it did so while still maintaining loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II as the [[Queen of Rhodesia|Rhodesian head of state]], despite the non-recognition of the Rhodesian government by the United Kingdom and the United Nations;<ref>{{cite book| title=A matter of weeks rather than months: The Impasse between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith: Sanctions, Aborted Settlements and War 1965–1969| last=Wood| first=J. R. T.|date=April 2008| location=Victoria, British Columbia| publisher=Trafford Publishing| isbn= 978-1-4251-4807-2| pages=1–8}}</ref> "God Save the Queen" therefore remained the Rhodesian national anthem. This was supposed to demonstrate the continued allegiance of the Rhodesian people to the monarch, but the retention in Rhodesia of a song so associated with the UK while the two countries were at loggerheads regarding its constitutional status caused Rhodesian state occasions to have "a faintly ironic tone", in the words of ''[[The Times]]''. Nevertheless, "God Save the Queen" remained Rhodesia's national anthem until March 1970, when it formally declared itself a republic.<ref name=buch243>{{cite book| title=Beethoven's Ninth: A Political History| last=Buch| first=Esteban| others=Trans. Miller, Richard| publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]| location=Chicago, Illinois|date=May 2004| orig-year=1999| isbn=978-0-226-07824-3| page=243}}</ref> "[[Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia]]" was adopted in its stead in 1974 and remained in use until the country returned to the UK's control in December 1979.<ref>{{cite book| title=Beethoven's Ninth: A Political History| last=Buch| first=Esteban| others=Trans. Miller, Richard| publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]| location=Chicago, Illinois|date=May 2004| orig-year=1999| isbn=978-0-226-07824-3| page=247}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Pioneers, settlers, aliens, exiles: the decolonisation of white identity in Zimbabwe|last=Fisher|first=J. L.|publisher=[[Australian National University|ANU E Press]]|location=Canberra|year=2010|isbn=978-1-921666-14-8|page=60}}</ref> Since the internationally recognised independence of the Republic of [[Zimbabwe]] in April 1980, "God Save the King" has had no official status there.<ref>{{cite news| title=Zimbabwe athlete sings own anthem| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3906619.stm| publisher=BBC| location=London| date=19 July 2004| access-date=18 February 2012| archive-date=5 September 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905135423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3906619.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Saint Vincent and the Grenadines===
"God Save the King" is the royal anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is played on royal and vice-regal occasions. The Vice-Regal Salute to the governor general is composed of the chorus of "God Save the King" and followed by that of the National Anthem, "[[Saint Vincent, Land so Beautiful]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=SVG gov't opts to install new GG on Emancipation Day|date=2 August 2019|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|work=iWitness News|archive-date=24 August 2024|access-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824022441/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2019/08/02/svg-govt-opts-to-install-new-gg-on-emancipation-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>

All proclamations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines end with the phrase: "God Save the King".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.gov.vc/assembly/images/PDF/proclamation/Proclamation_2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228233806/http://assembly.gov.vc/assembly/images/PDF/proclamation/Proclamation_2.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Proclamation|work=assembly.gov.vc|date=20 January 2020}}</ref>

===South Africa===
"God Save the King" ({{langx|af|God Red die Koning}}, {{lang|af|God Red die Koningin}} when a Queen) was a co-national anthem of [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]] from 1938 until 1957,<ref name=DieStem>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/06/03/archives/south-africa-will-play-two-anthems-hereafter.html|title=South Africa Will Play Two Anthems Hereafter|date=3 June 1938|work=The New York Times|location=New York|access-date=31 October 2018|page=10|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502083934/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/06/03/archives/south-africa-will-play-two-anthems-hereafter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> when it was formally replaced by "{{lang|af|[[Die Stem van Suid-Afrika]]}}" as the sole national anthem.<ref name=DieStem/> The latter served as a sort of {{lang|la|de facto}} co-national anthem alongside the former until 1938.<ref name=DieStem/>

==Use elsewhere==
The melody has often been used, with lyrics slightly or significantly altered, for royal or national anthems of other countries.

During the 19th century, it was used officially in Sweden,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sweden (royal anthem) – nationalanthems.info|url=http://www.nationalanthems.info/se%5E.htm|access-date=17 March 2021|website=www.nationalanthems.info}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2021}}{{efn|See [[Bevare Gud vår kung]].}} and in Iceland.<ref>{{cite book| editor=Daisy | title=A history of Icelandic literature| publisher=University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln| year=2006| pages=262, 518}}</ref>{{efn|Where it was set to {{lang|is|[[Íslands minni]]}} ("To Iceland", better known as {{lang|is|Eldgamla Ísafold}}), a poem by [[Bjarni Thorarensen]].}} It was also in official usage for brief periods in [[Imperial Russia]],{{efn|See [[Molitva russkikh]].}} in [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]],<ref>{{Cite web|year=1934|title=Ελλάς (Σημαίαι-Εμβλήματα-Εθιμοτυπία)|trans-title=Greece (Flags-Emblems-Etiquette)|url=http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/php/pdf_pager.php?rec=/metadata/a/f/b/metadata-01-0002588.tkl&do=279838_10.pdf&pageno=264&pagestart=1&width=662&height=963&maxpage=1104&lang=en|access-date=31 August 2018|website=www.anemi.lib.uoc.gr|publisher=Pyrsos Publishing|location=Athens|page=244|language=el|quote=Since the arrival of [[Otto of Greece|Otto]] to Greece, the [[Heil dir im Siegerkranz|German national anthem]] was formalised in Greece, which is an imitation of the British one. On the melody of "God Save the King" the following Greek lyrics were adapted: God Save our King, Otto the First / Lengthen, Strengthen his Reign / God Save our King.}}</ref> [[Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Siam]]{{Efn|See [[Chom Rat Chong Charoen]].}} and in the [[Kingdom of Hawaii]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Hawaiʻi ponoʻī | url=http://www.huapala.org/Hawaii/Hawaii_Ponoi.html | access-date=2 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070257/http://www.huapala.org/Hawaii/Hawaii_Ponoi.html | archive-date=17 January 2018}}</ref> It remains as the [[Kongesangen|royal anthem of Norway]] ("{{langr|no|Gud sign vår Konge god}}").

In Germany, it was used by the kingdoms of Prussia, Hanover, Saxony and [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]], and was adopted as anthem of the German emperor ("{{langr|de|[[Heil dir im Siegerkranz]]}}") after unification in 1871; however, it lacked the support necessary to become the official anthem of the empire.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.protokoll-inland.de/Webs/PI/EN/topics/state-symbols/national-anthem/national-anthem.html?nn=10768644|title=Domestic Protocol Office of the Federal Government - National anthem - National anthem}}</ref> It remains as the [[national anthem of Liechtenstein]], and was used by Switzerland until 1961 ("{{langr|de|Rufst du, mein Vaterland}}").

In Latvia, it was used by Latvians for the patriotic song "{{langr|lv|Dievs, svētī Kurzemi/Vidzemi!}}" ("God bless Kurzeme/Vidzeme!", depending on the region it was used in) in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/50753 |title=Latvijas svētās skaņas (Part I) |access-date=13 October 2012 |author=Dr. art. Arnolds Klotiņš |date=13 November 1998 |publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis |language=lv |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830181513/https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/50753 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Musical adaptations==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2025}}
===Composers===
About 140 composers have used the tune in their compositions.<ref name="royal family"/>

[[Ludwig van Beethoven]] composed a set of seven piano variations in the key of C major to the theme of "God Save the King", catalogued as [[WoO]] 78 (1802–1803). He also quotes it in his orchestral work ''[[Wellington's Victory]]''. It is also the first song arranged in the collection WoO 157.

[[Muzio Clementi]] used the theme to "God Save the King" in his [[Symphony]] No. 3 in G major, often called the "Great National Symphony", catalogued as WoO 34. Clementi paid a high tribute to his adopted homeland (the United Kingdom) where he grew up and stayed most of his lifetime. He based the symphony (about 1816–1824) on "God Save the King", which is hinted at earlier in the work, not least in the second movement, and announced by the trombones in the finale.

[[Johann Christian Bach]] composed a set of variations on "God Save the King" for the finale to his sixth keyboard concerto (Op. 1) written {{Circa|1763}}.

[[Joseph Haydn]] was impressed by the use of "God Save the King" as a national anthem during his visit to London in 1794, and on his return to Austria composed a different tune, "{{lang|de|[[Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser]]|italic=no}}" ("God Save Emperor Francis"), for the birthday of the last [[Holy Roman Emperor]] and [[King of the Romans|Roman-German King]], [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]], which became the basis for the anthem of the later [[Austrian Empire]], and ultimately for the [[German national anthem]].

[[Franz Liszt]] wrote a piano paraphrase on the anthem (S.259 in the official catalogue, c. 1841).

[[Johann Strauss I]] quoted "God Save the Queen" in full at the end of his [[waltz]] "{{lang|de|Huldigung der Königin Victoria von Grossbritannien}}" (Homage to Queen Victoria of Great Britain), Op. 103, where he also quoted "[[Rule, Britannia!]]" in full at the beginning of the piece.

[[Siegfried August Mahlmann]] in the early 19th century wrote alternate lyrics to adapt the hymn for the [[Kingdom of Saxony]], as "{{lang|de|Gott segne Sachsenland}}" ("God Bless Saxony").<ref>{{cite book| author=Granville Bantock| title=Sixty Patriotic Songs of All Nations| publisher=Ditson| year=1913| page=xv| url=https://archive.org/details/sixtypatriotics01bantgoog}}</ref>

[[Christian Heinrich Rinck]] wrote two sets of variations on the anthem: the last movement of his Piano Trio, Op. 34, No. 1 (1815) is a set of five variations and a concluding coda; and Theme (Andante) and (12) Variations in C major on "{{lang|de|Heil dir im Siegerkranz}}" (God Save the King), Op. 55.

[[Heinrich Marschner]] used the anthem in his "{{lang|fr|Grande Ouverture solennelle}}", Op. 78 (1842).

[[Gaetano Donizetti]] used this anthem in his opera "[[Roberto Devereux]]".

[[Joachim Raff]] used this anthem in his Jubelouverture, Op. 103 (1864) dedicated to [[Adolf, Duke of Nassau]], on the 25th anniversary of his reign.

[[Gioachino Rossini]] used this anthem in the last scene of his {{lang|it|[[Il viaggio a Reims]]}}, when all the characters, coming from many different European countries, sing a song which recalls their own homeland. Lord Sidney, bass, sings "{{lang|it|Della real pianta}}" on the notes of "God Save the King". [[Samuel Ramey]] used to interpolate a spectacular virtuoso [[cadenza]] at the end of the song.

[[Fernando Sor]] used the anthem in his 12 Studies, Op. 6: No. 10 in C major in the section marked 'Maestoso.'

[[Arthur Sullivan]] quotes the anthem at the end of his ballet ''[[Victoria and Merrie England]]''.

[[Claude Debussy]] opens with a brief introduction of "God Save the King" in one of his [[Preludes (Debussy)|Preludes]], ''[[Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C.]]''. The piece draws its inspiration from the main character of the [[Charles Dickens]] novel ''[[The Pickwick Papers]]''.

[[Niccolò Paganini]] wrote a set of highly virtuosic variations on "God Save the King" as his Op. 9.

[[Max Reger]] wrote ''Variations and Fugue on '{{lang|de|Heil dir im Siegerkranz}}' (God Save the King)'' for organ in 1901 after the death of [[Queen Victoria]]. It does not have an opus number.

A week before the Coronation Ode was due to be premiered at the June 1902 "Coronation Gala Concert" at [[Covent Garden]] (it was cancelled, owing to the King's illness), Sir [[Edward Elgar]] introduced an arrangement of "Land of Hope and Glory" as a solo song performed by [[Clara Butt]] at a "Coronation Concert" at the Albert Hall. Novello seized upon the prevailing patriotism and requested that Elgar arrange the National Anthem as an appropriate opening for a concert performed in front of the Court and numerous British and foreign dignitaries. This version for orchestra and chorus, which is enlivened by use of {{lang|it|a cappella}} and marcato effects, was also performed at the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley on [[St. George's Day]], 1924, and recorded under the composer's baton in 1928, with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Choir.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.elgar.org/3transcr.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971011082958/http://www.elgar.org/3transcr.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 October 1997| title=His Music : Orchestral Arrangements and Transcriptions| publisher=Elgar| access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> Elgar also used the first verse of the anthem as the climax of a short "Civic Procession and Anthem", written to accompany the mayoral procession at the opening of the Hereford Music Festival on 4 September 1927. This premiere performance was recorded, and is today available on CD; the score was lost following the festival, and Elgar reconstructed it by ear from the recording.<ref>Jerrold Northrop Moore, ''Edward Elgar, a Creative Life'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1987</ref>

[[Carl Maria von Weber]] uses the "God Save the King" theme at the end of his "Jubel Overture".

[[Giuseppe Verdi]] included "God Save the Queen" in his "{{lang|it|[[Inno delle nazioni]]}}" (Hymn of the Nations), composed for the London [[1862 International Exhibition]].

[[Benjamin Britten]] arranged "God Save the Queen" in 1961 for the [[Leeds Festival (classical music)|Leeds Festival]]. This version has been programmed several times at the [[Last Night of the Proms]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Benjamin-Britten-The-National-Anthem/55970&langid=1| title=Benjamin Britten – The National Anthem| publisher=Boosey.com| date=21 August 2013| access-date=12 February 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215225239/http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Benjamin-Britten-The-National-Anthem/55970%26langid%3D1| archive-date=15 December 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Charles Ives]] wrote ''[[Variations on "America"]]'' for organ in 1891 at age seventeen. It included a polytonal section in three simultaneous keys, though this was omitted from performances at his father's request, because "it made the boys laugh out loud". Ives was fond of the rapid pedal line in the final variation, which he said was "almost as much fun as playing baseball". The piece was not published until 1949; the final version includes an introduction, seven variations and a polytonal interlude. The piece was adapted for orchestra in 1963 by [[William Schuman]]. This version became popular during the bicentennial celebrations, and is often heard at pops concerts.

[[Muthuswami Dikshitar]] (1776–1835), one of the musical trinity in South Indian classical ([[Carnatic music|Carnatic]]) music composed some [[Sanskrit]] pieces set to Western tunes. These are in the raga [[Dheerasankarabharanam|Sankarabharanam]] and are referred to as "{{lang|sa-Latn|nottu swaras}}". Among these, the composition "{{lang|sa-Latn|Santatam Pahimam Sangita Shyamale}}" is set to the tune of "God Save the Queen".

[[Sigismond Thalberg]] (1812–1871), Swiss composer and one of the most famous virtuoso pianists of the 19th century, wrote a [[fantasia (music)|fantasia]] on "God Save the Queen".

[[Johan Nepomuk Hummel]] (1778–1837) wrote ''Variations on God Save the King in D major'', Op. 10 and quoted the tune briefly in his ''Freudenfest-Ouverture in D major'', S 148.

[[Jan Ladislav Dussek]] wrote a set of theme with 5 variations for piano on God Save the King.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imslp.org/wiki/3_Sonatas_for_Piano_and_Violin,_Op.12_(Dussek,_Jan_Ladislav)|title=3 Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Op.12 (Dussek, Jan Ladislav) - IMSLP|website=imslp.org}}</ref>

[[Adolphe Blanc]] wrote a set of variations for [[piano six hands]] on this theme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imslp.org/wiki/God_save_the_Queen_(Blanc,_Adolphe)|title=God save the Queen (Blanc, Adolphe) - IMSLP|website=imslp.org}}</ref>

[[Adrien-François Servais]] (1807–66) and [[Joseph Ghys]] (1801–48) wrote ''{{lang|fr|i=unset|Variations brillantes et concertantes sur l'air}} "God Save the King"'', Op. 38, for violin and cello and performed it in London and St Petersburg.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title=Kremerata Baltica: "Happy Birthday"| year=2002| first=Julia| last=Bederova| publisher=Nonesuch Records| id=7559-79657-2| location=New York }}</ref>

[[Georges Onslow]] (1784–1853) used the tune in his String Quartet No. 7 in G minor, Op. 9, second movement.

[[Hans Huber (composer)|Hans Huber]] used the melody ("{{lang|de|[[Rufst du, mein Vaterland]]}}") in the first movement of his Symphony no 3 in C minor, Op. 118 ("Heroic").

[[Ferdinando Carulli]] used the melody in {{lang|fr|Fantaisie sur un air national anglais}}, for recorder & guitar, Op. 102.

[[Louis Drouet]] composed "Variations on the air God save the King" for flute and piano.

[[Gordon Jacob]] wrote a choral arrangement of "God Save the Queen" with a trumpet fanfare introduction, for the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II|coronation of Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1953.<ref>{{cite book |last=Range |first=Matthias |date=2012 |title=Music and Ceremonial at British Coronations: From James I to Elizabeth II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_rIgAwAAQBAJ&q=Gordon+Jacob+%22God+Save+the+Queen%22&pg=PA323 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages= 256–257 |isbn= 978-1-107-02344-4 }}</ref>

===Rock adaptations===
[[Jimi Hendrix]] played an impromptu version of "God Save the Queen" to open his set at the [[Isle of Wight Festival 1970]]. Just before walking onto the stage, he asked "How does it [the anthem] go again?". Hendrix gave the same sort of distortion and improvisation of "God Save the Queen", as he had done with "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" at the [[Woodstock]] Festival in 1969.<ref name=HOPK>[[Jerry Hopkins (author)|Hopkins, Jerry]] (1998) [https://books.google.com/books?id=0UU2TUNrNaQC&dq=jimi+hendrix+god+save+the+queen&pg=PA289 ''The Jimi Hendrix Experience''], p. 290. Arcade Publishing, 1996</ref>

[[Queen (band)|Queen]] recorded an instrumental version of "God Save the Queen" for their 1975 album ''[[A Night at the Opera (Queen album)|A Night at the Opera]]''. Guitarist [[Brian May]] adapted the melody using layers of [[overdub]]bed electric guitars, a technique he also used on many other Queen songs. This recorded version was played at the end of every Queen concert from the end of 1974 to 1986, while the members of the band took their bows. On Queen's [[Magic Tour (Queen)|Magic Tour]] in 1986, vocalist [[Freddie Mercury]] would leave the stage shortly before the end of the show, and return wearing a crown and cloak as "God Save the Queen" played.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Queen Live|url=http://www.queenlive.ca/queen/86-06-14.htm|access-date=27 January 2021|website=www.queenlive.ca|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205232713/http://www.queenlive.ca/queen/86-06-14.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 June 2002, during the [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Queen's Golden Jubilee]], May performed the anthem on his [[Red Special]] electric guitar for [[Party at the Palace]] from the roof of [[Buckingham Palace]]. Footage of this performance appears on a DVD that was included 30th Anniversary edition of ''A Night at the Opera''.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-night-at-the-opera-30th-anniversary-cddvd-r811132 A Night at the Opera, 30th Anniversary CD/DVD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110327103207/http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-night-at-the-opera-30th-anniversary-cddvd-r811132 |date=27 March 2011 }} ''AllMusic'' Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>

In 1977, the [[Sex Pistols]] recorded a song titled "[[God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song)|God Save the Queen]]" in open reference to the national anthem and the [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations]] that year, with the song intending to stand for sympathy for the working class and resentment of the monarchy.<ref name=SPIST/> They were banned from many venues, censored by mainstream media, and reached number 2 on the official UK singles charts and number 1 on the NME chart.<ref name=SPIST>Fred Vermorel, Judy Vermorel (1987) [https://books.google.com/books?id=TO4zX3IndmoC&dq=BBC+sex+pistols+god+save+the+queen&pg=PA83 ''Sex Pistols: The Inside Story''], p. 83. Omnibus Press. Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/God%20Save%20The%20Queen Official Singles Chart – The Sex Pistols – God Save The Queen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609071140/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/god%20save%20the%20queen/ |date=9 June 2020 }} Retrieved 26 February 2011</ref>

A version of "God Save the Queen" by the [[ska]] band [[Madness (band)|Madness]] features the melody of the song played on [[kazoo]]s. It was included on the compilation album ''[[The Business – the Definitive Singles Collection]]''.<ref>''Ska Revival Albums: Bad Manners Albums, Madness (Band) Albums, the Beat Albums, the Members Albums, the Specials Albums, the Toasters Albums''. General Books, 2010</ref>

=== Computer music ===
The anthem was the first piece of music played on a computer, and the first computer music to be recorded.

Musical notes were first generated by a computer programmed by [[Alan Turing]] at the Computing Machine Laboratory of the [[University of Manchester]] in 1948. The first music proper, a performance of the National Anthem was programmed by [[Christopher Strachey]] on the Mark II [[Manchester Electronic Computer]] at same venue, in 1951. Later that year, short extracts of three pieces, the first being the National Anthem, were recorded there by a [[BBC]] outside broadcasting unit: the other pieces being "[[Baa Baa Black Sheep]]" and "[[In the Mood]]". Researchers at the [[University of Canterbury]], Christchurch restored the acetate master disc in 2016 and the results may be heard on [[SoundCloud]].<ref name="Turing">{{cite web |title=First recording of computer-generated music – created by Alan Turing – restored |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/26/first-recording-computer-generated-music-created-alan-turing-restored-enigma-code |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=28 August 2017 |date=26 September 2016 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325113654/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/26/first-recording-computer-generated-music-created-alan-turing-restored-enigma-code |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BL-2016-09">{{cite web|title=Restoring the first recording of computer music – Sound and vision blog|url=http://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2016/09/restoring-the-first-recording-of-computer-music.html|publisher=[[British Library]]|access-date=28 August 2017|date=13 September 2016|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902021808/http://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2016/09/restoring-the-first-recording-of-computer-music.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
The philosopher and reformer [[Jeremy Bentham]] praised "God Save the King" in 1796: "the melody recommending itself by beauty to the most polished ears, and by its simplicity to the rudest ear. A song of this complexion, implanted by the habit of half a century in the mass of popular sentiment, can not be refused a place in the inventory of the national blessings."<ref>{{cite book| first=Jeremy| last=Bentham| title=Writings on the Poor Laws, Vol. I| editor-first=Michael| editor-last=Quinn| publisher=Clarendon Press| place=Oxford| year=2001| isbn=0199242321| page=136 }}</ref> Ludwig van Beethoven wrote "I have to show the English a little of what a blessing 'God Save the King' is".<ref>Mathew, Nicholas (2013). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xPTWc1KDG64C&dq=hayden+%22god+save+the+king%22&pg=PA151 ''Political Beethoven''], Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1-107-00589-1}} (p. 151)</ref>

===Calls for a new national anthem(s)===
There have been calls within the UK for a new national anthem, whether it be for the United Kingdom itself, Britain or England (which all currently use "God Save the King"). There are many reasons people cite for wishing for a new national anthem, such as: from a [[Secularity|secular]] standpoint,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34268442 Why some people don't sing the national anthem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206104403/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34268442 |date=6 December 2018 }}. ''BBC NEWS''. Published 16 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> claims of God Save the King" being long outdated and irrelevant in the 21st century,<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11868473/Jeremy-Corbyn-was-right-not-to-sing-God-Save-the-Queen.-We-need-a-new-national-anthem.html Jeremy Corbyn was right not to sing 'God Save the Queen'. It's rubbish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081302/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11868473/Jeremy-Corbyn-was-right-not-to-sing-God-Save-the-Queen.-We-need-a-new-national-anthem.html |date=13 May 2018 }}. ''The Telegraph''. Published 16 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> rejection of odes to promoting war and [[imperialism]]<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/aug/27/britishidentity Time to ditch God Save The Queen]. ''The Guardian''. Auhthor – Peter Tatchell. Published 27 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> and rejection of praising the monarchy from a [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|republican]] perspective.<ref>{{cite web |title=Do we need a new National Anthem? |url-status=dead |url=https://www.republic.org.uk/winning-the-argument/national-anthem |publisher=The Republic |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112074029/https://www.republic.org.uk/winning-the-argument/national-anthem |archive-date=12 November 2017 |date=12 November 2017}}</ref> A further reason is that England has no anthem of its own for sporting contests and the like, whereas Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have unofficial anthems—"[[Flower of Scotland]]", "[[Londonderry Air]]" and "{{langr|cy|[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]}}"—while England tends to use "God Save the King" exclusively and also unofficially.

==See also==
*[[List of British anthems]], for regional anthems used in the United Kingdom, crown dependencies and British overseas territories

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Scholes |first1=Percy A.|author-link=Percy Scholes|title=God Save the Queen!: The History and Romance of the World's First National Anthem |date=1954 |publisher=Oxford University Press|ref=none}}

==External links==
{{Wikisource}}
{{Commons category|God Save the King}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Dimont|first1=Charles |title=God Save the Queen: the History of the National Anthem |journal=[[History Today]] |volume=3 |issue=5 |date=May 1953 |url=http://www.historytoday.com/charles-dimont/god-save-queen-history-national-anthem |access-date=31 May 2020|ref=none}}
* [https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem National Anthem] at the Royal Family website
* [http://nationalanthems.me/united-kingdom-god-save-the-queen/ Streaming audio, lyrics and information about God Save the Queen]
* [https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/royal-symbols-titles/royal-anthem.html Department of Canadian Heritage] – Royal anthem page
* [http://www.stgeorgesnews.org/2005/04f05.htm God Save Great George our King:] – article discussing different versions of the lyrics
* {{cantorion|pieces/2949/God_Save_the_Queen|God Save the King}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35312314 A Point of View: Is it time for a new British national anthem?] BBC News. Published 15 January 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
* [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3917316;view=1up;seq=18 On some Philological Peculiarities in the English Authorized Version of the Bible]. By Thomas Watts, Esq.

{{National Anthems of Europe}}
{{United Kingdom topics}}
{{Canadian royal symbols}}
<!--Remains official national anthem-->
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{{Authority control}}

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