# God Save The Queen **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668 "2015-06-28T01:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/1 "2015-06-28T01:38:33Z")
I wonder if it is ackward for the Queen to sit through God Save the Queen when in essence they are singing about her ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/2 "2015-06-28T01:55:13Z")
Elizabeth was crowned 62 years ago. She’s also the head of state for 15 countries besides Great Britain. I’m sure any embarassment she might have ever felt has long since been turned numb. And Presidents have to listen to Hail to the Chief. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/3 "2015-06-28T01:58:59Z")
> [@Potestas](#): > > I wonder if it is ackward for the Queen to sit through God Save the Queen when in essence they are singing about her I think she’s still able to stand: I guess that if she has to start sitting, it will be a bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/4 "2015-06-28T02:34:02Z")
Prime Minister: Your Majesty, I wonder if it is becoming more ackward for you to spend so much time on your feet at the age of 89. It may be prudent to delegate affairs of state to your son and grandsons, ma’am. Queen Elizabeth: Ackward?!? The fuck does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/5 "2015-06-28T03:05:22Z")
Off to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/6 "2015-06-28T03:34:36Z")
As someone else mentioned in a thread some years ago, she can’t sing her own country’s national anthem because it’s about her (“God save our gracious Meeee…”). But among all the various ritualistic nonsense through which she has to keep a straight face, this is trifling. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/7 "2015-06-28T07:06:47Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But among all the various ritualistic nonsense through which she has **to keep a straight face** … I don’t think she has much trouble keeping a straight face… Has anybody, anywhere, _ever_ seen Queen Elizabeth smile? Now, the Queen mum was famous for her happy face.Almost made me wish I was British… But Elizabeth the Twoth…not so much. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/8 "2015-06-28T07:24:41Z")
The anthem is about the position of the monarch not the current person holding it. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/9 "2015-06-28T07:58:32Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I don’t think she has much trouble keeping a straight face… > Has anybody, anywhere, _ever_ seen Queen Elizabeth smile? I believe HM smiles plenty in the company of her family, although the public aren’t generally invited to witness it. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/10 "2015-06-28T08:15:07Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I don’t think she has much trouble keeping a straight face… > Has anybody, anywhere, _ever_ seen Queen Elizabeth smile? [She seems to have quite a range of smiles.](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=queen+elizabeth+smiling&rlz=1C5MACD_enGB510GB510&espv=2&biw=1240&bih=652&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sauPVZq2H-mX7AbcgYPQAg&ved=0CCAQsAQ) I don’t know why we don’t see those photos more often. Perhaps formal state occasions are less likely to raise a chuckle. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/11 "2015-06-28T10:44:22Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > I believe HM smiles plenty in the company of her family, although the public aren’t generally invited to witness it. So I’ve gathered – in such private-and-personal life as she gets, she’s reputedly quite a fun person in her quiet way. My brother used to teach at a very upper-crust private girls’ school in England: the families of some of his pupils there, were on first-hand socialising terms with the Royals. To these pupils, the Queen was “Auntie Liz”, which I find rather sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/12 "2015-06-28T11:21:37Z")
Wouldn’t she walk out at the lyric “…and the facist regime?” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/13 "2015-06-28T12:16:29Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > So I’ve gathered – in such private-and-personal life as she gets, she’s reputedly quite a fun person in her quiet way. … To these pupils, the Queen was “Auntie Liz”, which I find rather sweet. > [@](#): > > I believe HM smiles plenty in the company of her family, although the public aren’t generally invited to witness it. Wow…So she actually has a nice smile, but refuses to show it? I find that kinda depressing. You Brits are a lot more formal than them damn rebellious Yankees…but still, what’s wrong with appearing human? She shouldn’t stoop as low as the US presidents–who join late-night comedians on chat shows. But what harm comes from showing a nice smile towards your subjects? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/14 "2015-06-28T12:19:08Z")
Refuses to show it? Have you not seen any photos of her at the races? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/15 "2015-06-28T12:22:22Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But what harm comes from showing a nice smile towards your subjects? None I can see: [https://www.google.com/search?q="queen+elizabeth+II"+smile&num=50&sa=G&es\_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=puaPVZrDHYmoNrmqpPAK&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=731](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22queen+elizabeth+II%22+smile&num=50&sa=G&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=puaPVZrDHYmoNrmqpPAK&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=731) Then there the royal guffaw: [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/10/article-2099577-0249C527000004B0-421_468x301.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/10/article-2099577-0249C527000004B0-421_468x301.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/16 "2015-06-28T12:26:36Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The anthem is about the position of the monarch But is it an ackward position? That’s what we’re trying to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/17 "2015-06-28T12:35:39Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > But is it an ackward position? That’s what we’re trying to figure out. There are dozens of monarchs on this planet, and they are all probably in the same boat of having to listen to their national anthem ad infinitum. Maybe someone could write super-polite letters to each asking the question. If the letter is sufficiently witty, I predict that at least one will reply. Most of them do know English. This can get someone started: > **[List of current monarchs of sovereign states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_sovereign_monarchs)** > > A monarch is the head of a monarchy, a form of government in which a state is ruled by an individual who normally rules for life or until abdication, and typically inherits the throne by birth. Monarchs may be autocrats (as in all absolute monarchies) or may be ceremonial figureheads, exercising only limited or no reserve powers at all, with actual authority vested in a legislature and/or executive cabinet (as in many constitutional monarchies). In many cases, a monarch will also be link A var... I predict the answer is: No. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/18 "2015-06-28T12:44:06Z")
P.S. on #17: I guess you’ll have to first check to see that the anthem actually mentions the monarch, but most of them do. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/19 "2015-06-28T12:47:02Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But what harm comes from showing a nice smile towards your subjects? I’m sure she smiles a lot in public. It’s just that for her (and many other people) her face does not default to smiling and most candid pictures will catch her not smiling. Which is unfortunate for someone in her position, especially since it’s one of those things where a woman gets judged much more harshly. (It doesn’t help that she lived most of her life in the shadow of her mother’s permanent beatific smile.) ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668/20 "2015-06-28T14:24:05Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Wow…So she actually has a nice smile, but refuses to show it? I find that kinda depressing. > > You Brits are a lot more formal than them damn rebellious Yankees…but still, what’s wrong with appearing human? > She shouldn’t stoop as low as the US presidents–who join late-night comedians on chat shows. > But what harm comes from showing a nice smile towards your subjects? Does she still have subjects? Didn’t the UK finally introduce citizenship a while ago? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-save-the-queen/723668.md?page=2)