Many viewers were left confused as the little-known second verse of the National Anthem was sung at Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.
The nation bid a final farewell to our longest-reigning monarch today.
Around 2,000 guests attended the official State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, including world leaders representing nearly 200 countries and territories, 500 foreign dignitaries – such as politicians, civil servants, and some celebrities – and many ordinary members of the public selected for charitable or community works.
Tens of thousands of mourners also travelled to London and Windsor for the funeral and burial service, and many more were seen gathering at different hubs across the UK to watch the historic event in real-time as it was broadcast.
Queen Elizabeth II’s children – including the newly-ascended King Charles III and Queen Consort – were in attendance, as were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other extended family members.
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The service concluded with a two-minute silence, before the national anthem was sung by everyone inside Westminster Abbey.
But it appears not everyone knew the words.
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The National Anthem, God Save the King, has been sung at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/xozw8sIhYh
The British National Anthem is song known by people of all ages, and is sung at countless events, ceremonies, and occasions all throughout the year.
The anthem, in its present form, dates all the way back to the eighteenth century, but historians have claimed that as the words and tune are anonymous, it may in fact date back to sometime in the seventeenth century.
‘God Save The King’ was a patriotic song first publicly performed in London in 1745, and it came to be known as the National Anthem at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
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The Royal Family states that there is no authorised version of the National Anthem, as the words are a matter of tradition, and while additional verses have been added down the years, these are rarely used, which often leaves the words used today being those sung in 1745, and substituting ‘Queen’ for ‘King’ where appropriate.
On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung – which explains why so many Brits are unfamiliar with the second verse.
This was about as evident as it could be during the State Funeral today.
As Westminster Abbey erupted in a rendition of the national anthem, the song continued after the first verse that most of us know off-by-heart into a second little-known verse, that left many viewers watching at home questioning why the majority just don’t know the words to the full anthem.
Others were just shocked to hear that there even is a second verse in the first place, and many took to social media to share their confusion.
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The sheer panic of that national anthem second verse starting.
Others were quick to point out that not only is there as little-known second verse to the National Anthem, but there are even lesser-known third and fourth verses – which are so rarely used, they are not even referenced on the Royal Family’s official website.
Given just how many people are not able to recite the words to the second verse of the National Anthem, others took the opportunity to call on the public to make an effort to learn it.
In case you were wondering, after all this talk of a second verse, what that second verse actually is, here is the British National Anthem.
Words are taken from the Royal Family’s official website.
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God Save the King
God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King! God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King.
Thy choicest gifts in store On him be pleased to pour, Long may he reign. May he defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the King.
Featured Image – BBC News
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Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
Kobbie Mainoo’s new Manchester United contract is edging closer
Danny Jones
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo’s new contract is creeping ever closer, manager Michael Carrick has suggested.
Ahead of Man United playing their first game in 24 days, supporters will take any positive news they can get, with the club having now shared the update regarding Mainoo extending his stay.
Following Carrick’s pre-match press conference before Monday night’s clash against old rivals, Leeds United, the Red Devils boss intimated that things are moving in the right direction, though he wouldn’t give any categorical confirmation whether or not a full agreement has been reached quite yet.
Here’s what he had to say:
"At the moment, we're in a good place."
A promising update on Kobbie's contract situation ⬇️
“Obviously, we’d like to think so, yeah, and it’s getting closer, so we’re positive with that”, said the 44-year-old coach.
He went on to add: “We’re calm with it, but we’re positive with it. Time will tell how it goes, but at the moment we’re in a good place with it.” You can hear his full response on the matter in the second part of his most recent presser right HERE.
As per multiple outlets earlier this month, Mainoo’s is reportedly set to see a huge increase in his salary if the numbers are to be believed.
Compared to the current £25,000 a week he is currently earning – staggering sums, sure, but a drop in the ocean when it comes to football money – he is set to earn nearly five times that amount if/when new terms are finalised.
It looked as though the Stockport-born academy product England prospect was on the verge of leaving under Ruben Amorim, as he somehow struggled to get into the side; now, though, it’s safe to say he looks to be steadily getting back on track under the former United midfielder.
With a rumoured £120k weekly package, this will see the 20-year-old earn a much more competitive wage that’s arguably more on a par with his teammates.
As not only one of their promising youth products but also already perceived to be one of their most talented first-team stars (making his senior debut in January 2023), many would argue that the extension of the present deal, which runs until 2027, is long overdue.
Said to be on the verge of penning the new contract, which is expected to see him stay until at least 2031, an official announcement would come as an added bonus for fans should they return to the pitch with a win over Leeds.
As for other transfer business, Man United have been linked with yet another midfielder ahead of the incoming summer window – though this one would be a more offensive and perhaps ambitious bit of recruitment…
Emily Sergeant -
19th September 2022 
