Is God Save The Queen and God Save The King the same song? Full lyrics ahead of the coronation

Thousands will sing the national anthem in support of the King today (Picture: Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Today, Saturday, May 6, is the coronation of King Charles III.  

A day for the history books, the coronation will include a procession of the newly crowned King and Queen Camilla and the nation will be encouraged to pledge their allegiance to the King as he’s crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Another way of showing support for the monarch has always been to sing the national anthem. For 70 years, we all knew that as God Save the Queen.

But is Charles’ anthem, God Save the King, a different song and what are the key differences?

Is God Save the King a different song than God Save the Queen?

No, the two songs are basically identical – the only difference being the change in noun.

The tune remains the same and so do most of the lyrics, we simply switch out any references of ‘Queen’ to ‘King’ and we swap out any female pronouns to male (for example, ‘send her victorious…’ becomes ‘send him’).

God Save the King (Picture: PA)

The simple act of switching out these nouns and pronouns means we will have a version of the national anthem not heard since 1952, when King George VI passed away at the untimely age of 56.

Upon his death, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, took to the throne and there she stayed for a history-making 70 years.

This also includes some pronoun switching in the oft-forgotten second verse.

What are the lyrics to the national anthem?

Who composed the national anthem?

Despite being one of the most well-known songs, the origins of the song are unclear. According to the official Royal Family website, the composer of the words and tune of God Save The King is anonymous.

It was first performed as a patriotic song back in 1745, although it did not officially become the country’s national anthem until the start of the 19th century.

The song was first performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane after Prince Charles Edward Stuart – the ‘young pretender’ to the British throne – defeated George II’s army at Prestonpans, near Edinburgh.

As news of the victory spread it was sung at the theatre in patriotic fervour – with the custom soon being picked up by other theatres, and eventually becoming a common way of greeting any visiting monarch who might visit an entertainment venue.

MORE : Coronation timetable: Full schedule for crowning of King Charles III

MORE : Is King Charles III traveling in the same coach Queen Elizabeth II did for her coronation procession?

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Share your views in the comments below.

Is there a whole new tune to learn?