Spain’s national anthem, Marcha Real, has no official lyrics. It is performed as an instrumental melody at state ceremonies, sporting events, and other occasions where national anthems are played.
The tune first appeared in 1761 in a collection of Spanish military music and became associated with royal ceremonies. It was formally recognised as a “March of Honour” in 1770, helping establish its later name, Marcha Real, or “Royal March.” Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros is traditionally credited with the composition.
Spain has had several attempts to give the anthem words, including proposals during the nineteenth century and a modern version promoted around the 2008 Beijing Olympics. None became official, partly because lyrics for a national symbol proved politically and culturally divisive. During the Second Spanish Republic, Marcha Real was replaced by the Himno de Riego, but it returned afterward. Unofficial lyrics exist, yet they are not part of the official anthem.