"God Save the King" has been the national anthem of the United Kingdom since 1745. Its also the royal anthem of the Commonwealth realms, played alongside their official national anthems. Its composer remains unknown to this date.
When the ruling monarch is a queen instead of a king, the title of the anthem then becomes "God Save the Queen".
The tune for "God Save the King" was used in many countries as a national anthem. Apart from the German state, many of which were linked to Great Britain by marriage, Liechtenstein and Switzerland used the tune. Switzerland changed to a different tune in the 1960s. Liechtenstein still uses the tune.
The tune is both American and British. In the 1930s the United States chose an official anthem. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was chosen instead of the equally popular "My Country 'tis of Thee" which used the "God Save the King" tune.
Lyrics
Standard version
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.
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.
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.
Original lyrics: "God Save the King" God save great George our king God save our noble king, God save the king! Send him victorious Happy and glorious Long to reign over us God save the king!
Latin verse
O Deus optime
Salvum nunc facito
Regem nostrum
Sic laeta victoria
Comes et gloria
Salvum iam facito
Tu dominum.
French version used in Canada
Que Dieu protège notre gracieux Roi, Longue vie à notre noble Roi, Que Dieu protège le Roi ! Rends-le victorieux, Heureux et glorieux ; Que soit long son règne sur nous, Que Dieu protège le Roi !
Māori version used in New Zealand
Me tohu e t'Atua
To matou Kuini pai: Kia ora ia Meinga kia maia ia, Kia hari nui, kia koa, Kia kuini tonu ia, Tau tini noa.