Kill the King

Posted by Gary Martin on July 04, 2001

In Reply to: Kill the King posted by Michael Solger on July 03, 2001

: I'm looking for both the orgin and mean of the phrase "Kill the King, Long Live the King." I've seen some variations, some include a line like "The King is Dead". Thank You.

"The King is dead: long live the King" has long been used in England as an acclaimation of a new sovereign. The meaning is, "The [old] King is dead; long live the [new] King". Presumably the last time it was used in Britain, when George VI died, it had to be modified a bit.

Gary

• The King is Dead.... Bob 07/05/01
• The King is Dead.... Bob 07/05/01