Yes, England should most definitely have its own anthem – either Rose of England or Land of Hope and Glory.

What a shame that we don’t have ‘Rose of England’ as one of the options in our poll.

Rose of England

Grown in one land alone,
Where proud winds have blown;
There’s not a flow’r
Born of the show’r
Braver than England’s own.

Though gales of winter blow
Piercing hail and snow,
Shining she stays,
Bright as in days of yore,

Old England’s pride still blossoms
fresh on England’s shore.

REFRAIN:

Rose of England, thou shalt fade not here,
Proud and bright from rolling year to year.
Red shall thy petals be as rich wine untold
Shed by thy warriors who served thee of old.

Rose of England, breathing England’s air,
Flower of Chivalry beyond compare;
While hand and heart endure to cherish thy prime,
Thou shalt blossom to the end of Time.

Music by Ivor Novello from “Crest of the Wave”
Words by Christopher Hassall

Still, despite the original ovesight, ‘Rose of England’ now gets its own blog entry by way of amends.