"God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!"

sing the Brits in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. There is probably no introduction to a national anthem that is better known around the world.

Even the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" of the Americans cannot keep up.

Carlota Brandis

volunteer

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"God save the Queen" is played before official sporting events of the England national team and at national and international appearances by the Head of State.

On Thursday, the crowd outside Buckingham Palace sang the anthem a cappella.

They honored Queen Elizabeth II, who died that day at the age of 96.

But these are not the only verses that can now be heard in front of the British royal family's headquarters in London: "God save the King" can also be heard from the crowd.

This part of the hymn, last sung in 1952 when Elizabeth's father King George VI.

died, is now reviving.

Because with the death of the reigning monarch, the title automatically passes to the designated heir to the throne: on the day that Elizabeth II died, Charles III.

an official statement as "his majesty the king".

With the progression of the succession to the throne and the changing gender of the monarch, the anthem now also changes.

"Queen" becomes "King", "her" becomes "him", "she" becomes "he".

The melody and the rest of the lyrics remain the same.

The website of the "Royal Family" has already adapted the text of the national anthem.

70 years of "God save the Queen"

The anthem has been sung in honor of the British head of state since 1745 - for four monarchs, before Elizabeth, to the king.

Now Elisabeth's son follows.

For generations of Brits, this is still quite unusual.

Most have never lived under a male monarch.

The anthem hasn't changed for them in 70 years.

Pound bills, coins, stamps and mailboxes must now also be updated: instead of a portrait of Elizabeth II, Charles III will be depicted in the future.

be visible.

Where there used to be "ER" - "Elizabeth Regina" - there must now be "CR" - "Charles Rex".

However, authorities have given the all-clear: Only new banknotes, coins and stamps have to be adjusted, old ones remain valid.

So Elisabeth is only gradually being replaced here.