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.
for anyone who was surprised, yes there’s a second verse to the national anthem
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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People are just finding out Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh studied at Man Met
Emily Sergeant
It’s fair to say that Michelle Yeoh is by far one of the most talked-about actresses in Hollywood at the moment.
Born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, she first rose to fame in the 1990s after starring in a series of Hong Kong action films, before she made a name for herself with major roles in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and Ang Lee’s martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), as well as Memoirs of a Geisha, Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, Kung Fu Panda 2, Crazy Rich Asians, and more.
Most recently, of course, she began gaining further global recognition for starring as laundromat owner and overwhelmed mother, Evelyn Wang, in the absurdist comedy-drama film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
The film was released to universal critical acclaim in 2022, and cemented its place as a 2023 awards front-runner shortly after.
Michelle Yeoh alongside Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All At Once / Credit: A24
Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, SAG Awards, and countless critics and film circles accolades for the career-defining role also followed for Yeoh, proving that the 60-year-old is one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Although clinching the coveted Academy Award for Best Actress at the 95th Oscars just last week had to be the cherry on top though, right?
In taking home the long-awaited and richly-deserved win, Yeoh not only beat out heavy-hitters Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, and Kerry Condon, but she also broke several records along the way.
She became the first Asian and the second non-white woman to win the Best Actress Award, and the first Malaysian to win an Academy Award in any category.
But, aside from all of that, did you know she has strong links to Manchester?
In a fact that many film fans are only just finding out about now, or probably still aren’t aware of, it has recently been revealed that Michelle Yeoh studied at and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts with a minor in Drama from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1983.
A big congratulations to Michelle Yeoh on wining the Oscar for Best Actress. 🎉👏
Michelle graduated with a bachelor's degree in creative arts and drama in 1983 and is understood to have studied at our former Cheshire campus.
— Manchester Metropolitan Uni (@ManMetUni) March 15, 2023
Yeoh never really dreamed of becoming an actress, and actually moved to the UK with her parents when she was 15 to begin studying at the Royal Academy of Dance in London – however, when a spinal injury prevented her from becoming a professional ballet dancer, she later transferred her attention to choreography and other arts.
This is when she enrolled in the Crewe & Alsager College in Cheshire, or what is more-commonly known as Man Met’s now-closed Cheshire campus.
Following what can only be described as a dramatic 90-minutes for the Red Devils against Fulham yesterday in the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, the Austrian midfielder was asked by reporters to give his take on the match – which saw three straight red cards given and a brawl break out, all before he netted his first goal for the club.
The 29-year-old – who was signed on a loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the 22/23 season – was asked by ITV Football’s Gabriel Clarke in his post-match interview whether or not United won the game, or rather if it was a case of Fulham losing it.
And his “straight-talking” response to the question has seen supporters calling for him be signed on a permanent deal.
"Very happy, it was an important goal for the team!"
Marcel Sabitzer discusses Man Utd's dramatic win over Fulham and his first goal at Old Trafford! 🙌
It all came after a late second-half meltdown at Old Trafford, where Fulham winger Willian was first sent off for a handball on the goal-line in the 72nd minute, before Fulham goal-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic then started squaring-up to the referee, and several other players subsequently joined in leading to an on-pitch commotion.
Mitrovic was also shown a straight red card shortly after, as was Fulham manager Marco Silva for dissent.
Sabitzer then scored his first goal in a United shirt quickly after in the 77th minute.
Two United goals ⚽️ Three Fulham red cards 🟥 Five minutes 🤯
After speaking on the game as a whole, when the reporter asked whether it was United that won or Fulham who lost, the midfielder shrugged his shoulders and said with a completely straight face: “We won it. Why not?
“We scored three, they scored one. We concentrated and were focused.
“I think we deserved the win.
“We had some chances that we missed. Second half, we were 1-0 down, but, as I said, we came back and that’s the important thing.”
Marcel Sabitzer scored his first goal in a United shirt during yesterday’s dramatic FA Cup clash / Credit: Manchester United (via Facebook)
The Austrian international’s answer to the reporter’s question has seen United supporters heap praise on him, taking to social media after the match to urge the club to sign him on a permanent deal after his loan ends at the close of the current season.
“The way he said “we won it”. Absolutely love this guy,” one fan said on Twitter.
“Sign him for this interview alone,” another United fan said on Twitter, while a third added: “Cold AF. Love it,” and a fourth commented: “Love how Sabitzer handled this interview despite the usual moronic questions.”
Another fan added on Twitter in response: “Sabitzer interview brilliant. For the goal and interview alone he has to be a red next season.”
Sabitzer also spoke to Manchester United’s official MUTV channel after the match and described his first goal for the club as “massive” for him.
“I was overwhelmed,” he admitted.
“Scoring the first at Old Trafford in front of these amazing fans. And that important one, at 2-1 it was a massive one. I am very happy at the moment. I couldn’t reach it with the right foot, so I was just trying to hit it with the left foot and it worked out.”
“It’s massive win,” he continued. “We wanted to go back to Wembley, we did it. 1-0 down was tough, but we come back and it was a good one.”
With the prospect of another trophy on the horizon as United head to Wembley for the second time this season in the FA Cup Semi Final, Sabitzer said he’s prepared for another clash in the capital.
“As I said, before the game we were very focused to go back to Wembley and we did it,” he declared, “We know we are going to face a tough opponent, strong opponent. But we will prepare well for it and we will be ready to go to the final.
Emily Sergeant -
19th September 2022 
