Editing God Save the King (section)

==Reception==
The philosopher and reformer [[Jeremy Bentham]] praised "God Save the King" in 1796: "the melody recommending itself by beauty to the most polished ears, and by its simplicity to the rudest ear. A song of this complexion, implanted by the habit of half a century in the mass of popular sentiment, can not be refused a place in the inventory of the national blessings."<ref>{{cite book| first=Jeremy| last=Bentham| title=Writings on the Poor Laws, Vol. I| editor-first=Michael| editor-last=Quinn| publisher=Clarendon Press| place=Oxford| year=2001| isbn=0199242321| page=136 }}</ref> Ludwig van Beethoven wrote "I have to show the English a little of what a blessing 'God Save the King' is".<ref>Mathew, Nicholas (2013). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xPTWc1KDG64C&dq=hayden+%22god+save+the+king%22&pg=PA151 ''Political Beethoven''], Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1-107-00589-1}} (p. 151)</ref>

===Calls for a new national anthem(s)===
There have been calls within the UK for a new national anthem, whether it be for the United Kingdom itself, Britain or England (which all currently use "God Save the King"). There are many reasons people cite for wishing for a new national anthem, such as: from a non-religious standpoint<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34268442 Why some people don't sing the national anthem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206104403/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34268442 |date=6 December 2018 }}. ''BBC NEWS''. Published 16 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> claims of "God Save the King" being long outdated and irrelevant in the 21st century,<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11868473/Jeremy-Corbyn-was-right-not-to-sing-God-Save-the-Queen.-We-need-a-new-national-anthem.html Jeremy Corbyn was right not to sing 'God Save the Queen'. It's rubbish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081302/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11868473/Jeremy-Corbyn-was-right-not-to-sing-God-Save-the-Queen.-We-need-a-new-national-anthem.html |date=13 May 2018 }}. ''The Telegraph''. Published 16 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> rejection of odes to promoting war and imperialism<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/aug/27/britishidentity Time to ditch God Save The Queen]. ''The Guardian''. Auhthor – Peter Tatchell. Published 27 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2017.</ref> and rejection of praising the monarchy from a [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|republican]] perspective.<ref>{{cite web |title=Do we need a new National Anthem? |url-status=dead |url=https://www.republic.org.uk/winning-the-argument/national-anthem |publisher=The Republic |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112074029/https://www.republic.org.uk/winning-the-argument/national-anthem |archive-date=12 November 2017 |date=12 November 2017}}</ref> A further reason is that England has no anthem of its own for sporting contests and the like, whereas Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have unofficial anthems—"[[Flower of Scotland]]", "[[Londonderry Air]]", and "{{langr|cy|[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]}}"—while England tends to use "God Save the King" exclusively and also unofficially.