What is the current title of the United Kingdom’s national anthem?

The United Kingdom’s national anthem is titled “God Save the King.” The title changes with the monarch’s gender: during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, it was “God Save the Queen,” and it became “God Save the King” when Charles III became king in 2022.

The anthem’s exact authorship is uncertain. Its words and melody appeared in print in the 18th century, with an arrangement published in 1745. It was used in support of King George II during the Jacobite rising, helping establish its royal and patriotic association.

“God Save the King” is used at major British state occasions and at some sporting events. It is also the national anthem of several other countries within the Commonwealth, although arrangements and conventions vary. “Rule, Britannia!” and “Land of Hope and Glory” are patriotic British songs, but neither is the United Kingdom’s official anthem.