Will monarchists sing about โ€˜crushing rebellious Scotsโ€™ at the coronation?

The liturgy, published by the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Palace, explains exactly what will happen during the service and when.

READ MORE: The king will abhor the 'great cry of allegiance', despite helping to create the idea, says a friend

A host of hymns and hymns will be sung, including the national anthem "God Save the King."

But will it contain the infamous verse, which Billy Connolly called "dreadful" and "racist", about having "rogue Scots to crush"?

This is what we know about the national anthem and the coronation of the King.

Are the Scots mentioned in the national anthem?

Around the Jacobite rising of 1745, a verse was written and occasionally sung as part of the longer hymn God Save the King, which appeared in its present form around the same time.

This controversial verse mentioned Field Marshal George Wade, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the British forces during the "Rebellion of the Forty-Five."

Goes: "Sir, grant that Marshal Wade,

"That by your powerful help,

โ€œVictory brings.

"Shut up the sedition,

And like a torrent

โ€œRebel Scots to crush,

"God save the king."

There are many versions of God Save the King, and often the above verse is not included. On other occasions it has been included as the sixth and last verse, or somewhere in between.

In official acts, only the first stanza of the anthem is sung. At the coronation of King Charles, only the first and final verses (sometimes the fifth) will be sung, according to to the liturgy.

These go: โ€œGod save our merciful King!

โ€œLong live our noble King!

"God save the king!

"Send him victorious,

"Happy and glorious,

โ€œHe longs to rule over us,

"God save the king.

โ€œYour most select gifts in the store

"Upon him please pour out,

โ€œMay he reign long.

โ€œLet him defend our laws,

"And always give us a reason,

"To sing with heart and voice,

"God save the king."

Have there been efforts to address the controversial Scottish verse in the past?

While Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a review of British citizenship by former Attorney General Peter Goldsmith, who suggested rewriting the verse calling for "rogue Scots" to be crushed.

Speaking in 2007, Goldsmith said: "Many people have raised the issue of the national anthem in various ways.

"I think the national anthem is an important part of our national tradition."

He added: โ€œBut the review is about different ways of sharing our tradition and national identityโ€ฆ

READ MORE: Scots suggest songs the BBC should play instead of God Save the Queen

"What we have to see are different ways of saying what unites the country."

However, in 2010 it was confirmed that no changes would be made to the anthem.

Debate over the lyrics has raged for decades, with Billy Connolly raising the issue in the 1980s during his appearance on "An Audience With..." which drew millions of viewers.

The comedian said of the anthem, "It's a dreadful, racist song. The fourth verse is about Marshal Wade reaching out to give us a belt in our mouths."


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