For 70 years, England sang “God Save the Queen” in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The change followed her death in September 2022, when Charles III became king.
The alteration looks simple on paper, but the anthem is usually sung from memory. Its opening lines move from “our gracious King” to “our noble King”, before returning to “the King”. That shift between “our” and “the”, combined with the change from feminine to masculine references, creates natural opportunities for mistakes.
At a major tournament, even a small slip is immediately noticeable. “Queen” can still emerge where “King” now belongs, reflecting decades of repetition rather than any deliberate protest.
“God Save the King” was first adopted as a national anthem in September 1745, during the reign of George II and a period of unrest threatening the Crown. Its history explains the song’s strong royal symbolism, but also fuels an ongoing debate about whether English football should have its own anthem.
England’s national teams traditionally use the anthem of the United Kingdom. Normally, only the first verse is heard before matches, while additional verses have become less familiar. The third includes the appeal for nations to “form one family”.
“Jerusalem” has often been discussed as a possible alternative for English football. It would offer a more specifically English identity, but replacing a tradition stretching back to 1745 would also change the symbolism surrounding every international fixture.
Against DR Congo, the anthem will be a brief prelude to the football. Yet its performance will remain part of the tournament narrative: another chance to see whether “God Save the King” now feels established, or whether old habits still echo among England’s support.