I have long wondered why the British say "God Save the Queen" what are they asking to save her from?

The story goes like this:

During the 7 years war between the British empire and French king Louis XIV, an attempt for assassination occurred. The queen was in her palace, at midnight a group of trained french ninjamen broke into her room. They almost got her but the guards were quick to stop them. Ever since that incident the people would say "God save the queen" everytime there was a threat from the outside world, this threat could be anything.

Maybe the song was written at a time when people were asking God to save their monarch from something:)

Britain's had a long history. Most things in Britain are the result of something else.

You could look it up?

Or you could rely on the answers here that give the usual self- righteous answers that stuff like the monarchy is because we've decided to be backward

Kro ko Dil Gena is proper. The title is 'God save the Queen' is clearly a request. If it have been adequately stated it could be 'Please God defend our Queen'. "God Saves the Queen" has an extra that means. This says that God has saved the Queen up to now, while the song is ready her ( or his if its a king) continued safety. God save our gracious Queen, lengthy reside our noble Queen, God keep the Queen! This is among the many grammatical tricks that the English language will play.

I'm guessing it's a traditional saying from the time when most monarchs died 'sudden' deaths and it somehow made it's way through history.

I always thought it would be strange to have one monarch die but try to be happy right away for the succession of the next.

I'm reading a history of England & a lot of the kings in the first part of the medieval years died deaths that were questionable.

You don't know what she gets up to behind those closed palace doors. Such depravity...

Also, God bless the Queen makes it sound like she's sneezing.

They are using "save" in the sense of "preserve."

Save the queen from all danger, adversity, strife, illness, grant her long life, etc.

As an atheist the phrases "God bless....." and "God save....." have long puzzled me.

I didnt think humans were allowed to give instructions to their god but they seem to do so very freely.

Not save as in rescue, save as in preserve, keep.

The dentist

Aliens and the Irish.