United Kingdom National Anthem — God Save the King

"God Save the King" is, quite literally, a prayer for the monarch. Where many anthems celebrate a land or a people, this one asks a blessing on the sovereign personally — that the King be kept "victorious, happy and glorious" and reign long over the nation.

That focus on the crown reflects its 18th-century origins, when it rallied support for the monarchy. Its simple, hymn-like melody has proved endlessly adaptable, borrowed by several other countries over the centuries.

The song appeared in published form around 1744–1745 and gained prominence during the 1745 Jacobite rising. No composer is credited; scholars label it "traditional". Its melody has been reused for other national songs, including the American patriotic hymn "My Country, 'Tis of Thee".

As one of the world's first national anthems, "God Save the King" influenced the very idea of a national anthem. It is performed at royal, state and sporting occasions across the UK and the Commonwealth, switching between "King" and "Queen" with the reigning monarch.

"God Save the King" is the national and royal anthem of the United Kingdom, and one of the oldest of all national anthems. Its words and melody are traditional, with no known single author, and it became established as the anthem during the 1740s.

The title and lyrics change with the monarch's gender — "God Save the Queen" during a queen's reign. The anthem has never been formally adopted by law; its status rests on custom.