God Save The Queen, or to give it it’s true title, God Save The King, is the de facto national anthem of the UK and a number of British territories and Commonwealth realms.

Its words are adapted to the gender of the reigning monarch.

The lyricist is unknown but music was written by Thomas Augustine Arne.

A publication of an early version in The Gentleman's Magazine on 15 October 1745 gives its title as God Save Our Lord The King: A New Song Set For Two Voices.

Traditionally, the first performance was thought to have been in 1745, when it was sung in support of King George II after his defeat by the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobite claimant to the throne.

>>Ten alternatives to God Save The Queen<<

Ironically, some claim it was actually sung in support of the Jacobite cause.

It is Norway's royal anthem titled Kongesangen.

It was the Swedish royal anthem between 1805 and 1880, titled Bevare Gud vår kung.

The tune is still used as the national anthem of Liechtenstein, Oben am jungen Rhein.