Sir, I am amazed that so few “dedicated monarchists” knew the second, some say third, verse of the National Anthem (“Humming along on The Mall”, June 6). When I was in primary school (in the late 1990s) we were all taught the words to both verses as a matter of course. Surely my school cannot have been alone in this?
I am also reminded of how Baroness Boothroyd referred to the second verse as constitutional monarchy in a nutshell. Perhaps if more people knew the words they too would see the link between the service the Queen renders to the nation and her position at the apex of society.
Clearly more young people need to be taught these two immortal verses in school.
Matthew Bolt
Aylesbury, Bucks
Advertisement
Sir, When I was in the Brownies in the late 1940s one gained an additional badge for being able to recite the second verse of the National Anthem — a great incentive to an 8-year-old and never to be forgotten.
Caroline Lavender
Kilmington, Devon