What is the British National Anthem?
The National Anthem is God Save the Queen. The British National Anthem originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. It became known as the National Anthem from the beginning of the nineteenth century.
On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung, as follows:
| God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen. |
An additional verse is occasionally sung:
| Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign. May she defend our laws, And give us ever cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen. |
The British National Anthem represents the whole of the UK. However, Wales and Scotland have other songs which they sing, especially when playing against England in sport matches.
Wales - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land Of My Fathers)
Scotland - Flower of Scotland and Scotland the Brave
England too has its own song or songs. William Blake's Jerusalem and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot are often sung. Another popular song is Land of Hope and Glory, which was sung at the first England match of the 2006 Six Nations.
Read the information about British emblem and describe it.
The Royal1 Coat of Arms2 carries the symbols representing England, Scotland and Ireland, the Sovereign's motto3 and the lion and the unicorn4.
On the left, the shield5 is supported by the English Lion. On the right it is supported by the Unicorn of Scotland. (The unicorn is chained6 because in mediaeval times a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast7).
The Royal Arms8 we see today have evolved9 over nine centuries, since Richard the Lionheart chose three lions to represent England. This 
symbol on the King's shield would immediately identify him in the midst10 of battle.
The full version of the Royal Coat of Arms is now used only by the Queen in her capacity11 as the Sovereign. In the version used by the government and consequently as the official coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the crown is shown resting directly on the shield, with the helm12, crest13 and mantling14 not displayed (like in the black and white picture above).
In the coloured photograph you see that the unicorn horn15 is missing (it may have fallen off).
The main element of the Arms is the shield which is divided into four quarters.
1 royal [′rÉı(ə)l] – королевский, монарший
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2 Coat of Arms [′kəυt əv ′a:mz] - герб
3 motto [′mÉtəυ] – девиз, лозунг
4 unicorn [′ju:nıkÉ:n] - единорог
5 shield [∫i:ld] - щит
6 chain [t∫eın] – приковывать цепью
7 beast [bi:st] зверь, животное
8 arms [′a:mz] - герб
9 evolve [ı′vÉlv] – развивать(ся)
10 midst [mıdst] - середина
11 capacity [kə′pæsıtı] – роль, положение, должность
12 helm [helm] - шлем
13 crest [krest] – гребень шлема, украшение наверху гербового щита
14 mantling [′mæntlıŋ] – мантия на гербе
15 horn [hÉ:n] – рог
Shield of the Royal Arms
The first and fourth quadrants1 represent England and contain three gold lions passant2 on a red field; the second quadrant represents Scotland contains a red lion rampant3 on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold harp4 of Ireland on a blue field.
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