Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join
How did the Napoleonic Wars contribute to the enshrinement of the British national anthem? What are the Jacobite origins of this legendary melody? And, which British monarch was it written for?
Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the creation of Britain’s legendary national anthem, God Save the King, and its mysterious composer.
Our whole playlist of episodes on national anthems can be found here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuGnGEZLkDJVCcz_1TbATUGI
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.
Father’s Day discounted gift memberships available here. Treat your dad to ad-free listening, early access to full series, bonus episodes, and much more.
00:00 The secret origins of *God Save the King*
01:11 Lloyds
03:10 Why Britain’s national anthem matters
09:00 God, monarchy and the Napoleonic Wars
12:03 Who actually wrote *God Save the King*?
17:35 Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rising
22:38 The anthem’s dramatic debut at Drury Lane
27:41 The song’s secret Jacobite past
32:44 How Britain exported its anthem around the world
34:44 The Times and The Sunday Times
35:52 The Rest Is History Club
37:47 The Sex Pistols and *God Save the Queen*
42:43 Why Britons sneer at their national anthem
46:01 The World Cup anthem problem
48:50 Why Scotland does not sing God Save the King
55:02 How Flower of Scotland became Scotland’s anthem
58:10 Why England still uses Britain’s anthem
01:00:12 Should England adopt Jerusalem instead?
01:03:07 Next time: Germany’s national anthem
Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude
Senior Producer: Callum Hill
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join
How did the Napoleonic Wars contribute to the enshrinement of the British national anthem? What are the Jacobite origins of this legendary melody? And, which British monarch was it written for?
Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the creation of Britain’s legendary national anthem, God Save the King, and its mysterious composer.
Our whole playlist of episodes on national anthems can be found here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuGnGEZLkDJVCcz_1TbATUGI
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.
Father’s Day discounted gift memberships available here. Treat your dad to ad-free listening, early access to full series, bonus episodes, and much more.
00:00 The secret origins of *God Save the King*
01:11 Lloyds
03:10 Why Britain’s national anthem matters
09:00 God, monarchy and the Napoleonic Wars
12:03 Who actually wrote *God Save the King*?
17:35 Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rising
22:38 The anthem’s dramatic debut at Drury Lane
27:41 The song’s secret Jacobite past
32:44 How Britain exported its anthem around the world
34:44 The Times and The Sunday Times
35:52 The Rest Is History Club
37:47 The Sex Pistols and *God Save the Queen*
42:43 Why Britons sneer at their national anthem
46:01 The World Cup anthem problem
48:50 Why Scotland does not sing God Save the King
55:02 How Flower of Scotland became Scotland’s anthem
58:10 Why England still uses Britain’s anthem
01:00:12 Should England adopt Jerusalem instead?
01:03:07 Next time: Germany’s national anthem
Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude
Senior Producer: Callum Hill
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
