The History Of God Save The Queen Explained

Publish date: 2024-05-05

As long as there were kings, there were always queens. While queens did take over the throne as monarchs throughout British history, there was no official anthem back then. According to the royal family, the anthem didn't become official until the 19th century. So even though there were previous queens before King George II, there was no national song with them in reference. That would all change when Queen Victoria (pictured) succeeded William IV (via History U.K.) in 1837. Subsequently, the anthem was then changed from "God Save the King" to "God Save the Queen."

When she died in 1901 and King Edward VII inherited the throne, it was changed back to "King." It would stay like that from 1901 to 1952. Because during that time, four kings ruled the U.K., including Edward VII, who was followed by George V, Edward VIII, and George VI — the latter, the current Queen Elizabeth's father.

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