Next Thursday as the band starts playing the first notes of ‘God Save the Queen’ ahead of the England v Wales fixture in the Lens Stadium I will be embarrassed, even squirming.
I am someone who was born in England and now lives in Wales. Why is the song that represents my British identity being used in opposition to what I regard as my Welsh identity?
While my soul will be stirred when I hear the Welsh fans singing ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ (‘Land of my Fathers’) I will be feeling angry about the music played for the identity of my place of birth – even though I’m equally proud to be English.