Torbay Council

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The National Anthem

The author of the words and tune to this patriotic song are anonymous and some have attempted to claim authorship from as early as 1545 when a watchword at night was “God save the King to which the reply was “Long to reign over us.”
In 1745 this song was first publicly performed in London after the king, George II defeated the Jacobite claimant to the throne, “Bonnie Prince Charlie.”
It was not until the 1800s that the song became referred to as the National Anthem and more over and although there is no authorised version, the words are now traditional.  The first verse is only usually sung and rarely are the subsequent verses heard.
           God save our gracious Queen,
           Long live our noble Queen,
           God save The Queen.
           Send her victorious,
           Happy and glorious,
           Long to reign over us,
           God save The Queen.



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