Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks

It’s the national anthem of the United Kingdom, one of the two national anthems of New Zealand, and the royal anthem of Canada, Australia, and the other Commonwealth Realms, as well as the royal anthem of the British Royal Family.

So how come its not appropriate to be played in the presence of the Queen, in Australia, in the presence of the gathered athletes of the Commonwealth Realms?

Really, how petty can you get. This shows the mean-spiritedness of some republicans. Contrary to the letter in today’s edition of The Age, it would not be sung instead of but as well as the national anthem of Australia. See how inclusive and reasonable constitutional monarchism is, folks?

And what about the claim that no-one knows the Royal Anthem? Deplorable ignorance, you may well say, but then no-one knows the verses to our National Anthem either, according to recent surveys. So, in the interests of Commonwealth harmony, here is the tune and the words (below).

1      God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

2      O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save the Queen.

3      Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

I especially like the second verse, don’t you?

I think I might go out and buy a ticket to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games just so that I can stand up and sing it regardless of the official program. Any takers?

(Nb. For all you Australian Lutherans out there, its no. 577 in the Lutheran Hymnal, but without the second verse. Pity.)