“Zadok the Priest” was first composed by Handel to be performed at the coronation of King George II in 1727, and it has been used at the crowning of every British monarch ever since.
It’s hard to think of a more suitable piece of music than one with lyrics such as:
And all the people rejoiced
Rejoiced, rejoiced and said:
God save the king
Long live the king
God save the king
May the king live forever
Amen, amen, alleluia, alleluia
Amen, amen, alleluia, amen …
It has been confirmed by the Royal Family that “Zadok the Priest” will once again form part of the musical repertoire when King Charles III is formally crowned in London on Saturday.
Strange to think, then, that when Real Madrid and Manchester City meet for the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, the very same strains will be echoing around the rafters of the Bernabeu just before kickoff as those that were heard at Westminster Abbey three days earlier.
