11 Facts About God Save the King

1.

In countries not part of the British Empire, the tune of "God Save the King" has provided the basis for various patriotic songs, though still generally connected with royal ceremony.

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2.

The variation in the UK of the lyrics to "God Save the King" is the oldest amongst 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.

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3.

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 .

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4.

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.

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5.

Phrase "God Save the King" is much older than the song, appearing, for instance, several times in the King James Bible.

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6.

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".

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7.

Since then, "God Save the King" is most often only played when the sovereign, governor-general or other member of the Royal Family is present, or on some occasions such as Anzac Day.

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8.

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".

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9.

God Save the King based the Symphony 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.

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10.

Tune of "God Save the King" was adopted for the Prussian royal anthem "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz".

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11.

Gordon Jacob wrote a choral arrangement of God Save the Queen with a trumpet fanfare introduction, for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

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