England May Finally Get Its Own National Anthem

God may save the Queen, but who will save "God Save the Queen"? A bill introduced Wednesday in British parliament means England will consider replacing "God Save the Queen" as its de facto national anthem for the first time in 200 years, the New York Times reports. "God Save the Queen" is technically the national anthem for Great Britain, of which England is only a part, according to the Guardian. Scotland and Wales have their own individual anthems, but England does not. "I want to keep 'God Save the Queen' for Britain and instead introduce a purely English anthem to be sung in advance of England football and rugby matches and other sporting events," the Express quotes MP Toby Perkins, who introduced the bill.

Perkins thinks a purely English anthem will strengthen English identity, the Express reports. And the Times states the bill is "highlighting the growing nationalist sentiments at play in Britain." But it sounds like the subject of "God Save the Queen" isn't ready to be relegated to UK teams and events. “We have been happily singing 'God Save The Queen' for ever—I don’t see the need to change it," the Queen's cousin tells the Express. “The Queen has always said she’s only there for as long as people want her, but I should think they’d think it’s rather rude.” Prime Minister David Cameron has said he supports William Blake's "Jerusalem" for the new anthem, the Times reports. Other suggestions include "Heroes" by David Bowie and "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" by the Smiths. The bill is unlikely to pass when it's debated in March. (More England stories.)