God Save the King, or “God Save the Queen,” is the national anthem of the United Kingdom. It is also the royal anthem in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand for official occasions when the monarch or the monarch’s representative is present. The song is a prayer for the glory and happiness of the British monarch, who is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations. In the United States, the music is used for the song “America,” and other nations also have adopted the tune. The origin of the words and music is unknown. Henry Carey, a British composer, may have composed the tune in the early 1700’s. The words were printed in London as early as 1744. The words of “God Save the King” are changed when a queen reigns.
Loading the player...United Kingdom national anthem
