God Save the Queen

proper noun

The national anthem of the United Kingdom when the current monarch is a female.

“The King is dead! God save the Queen!”

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. The national anthem of the United Kingdom when the current monarch is a female.
interjection
  1. AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandUKAn expression of one’s patriotism and hope for the long life of the monarch, especially in her presence.
  2. UKA formal statement at the end of many proclamations issued by the queen of the UK or in her name.
  3. UKA formal declaration following the death of a reigning monarch when the next monarch is female.

    The King is dead! God save the Queen!

Origin

First known to be used during the reign of Queen Mary I during certain royal proclamations, likely popularized after William Shakespeare's Richard III c. 1592–1593 due to quotes containing it with its current patriotic meaning that borrowed from some royal proclamations of Queen Elizabeth I.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

God Save the Queen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/God%20Save%20the%20Queen

MLA

“God Save the Queen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/God%20Save%20the%20Queen. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “God Save the Queen,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/God%20Save%20the%20Queen.

Source: God Save the Queen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.