Details of Britain’s first ever anthem

The patriotic fervour that traditionally surrounds the Last Night of the Proms would have had a very different focus if Britain’s first “national anthem” was still in vogue, research has shown. As the celebration of classical music reaches its crescendo with songs marking Britain’s royal family and days of “ruling the waves”, the nation was once united by the love of a now-forgotten tune that featured Druids and Queen Boudica. The anthem, called Britons, Strike Home, was popular, particularly during times of war.