Once in Royal David’s City
This well-known carol was written in 1848 by Irish poet Cecil Frances Alexander who also wrote All Things Bright and beautiful. It was originally published in her collection Hymns for Little Children.
The carol’s lyrics tell the story of the Nativity, focusing on the humility of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, also referred to as the “Royal City of David.”
The carol gained even more prominence when British organist Henry John Gauntlett composed the melody for it a year later.
Today it is particularly famous as the opening hymn of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge. The service, broadcast globally every Christmas Eve, traditionally begins with a boy soprano singing the first verse solo, a tradition that has made the carol an iconic part of British Christmas celebrations.
This year one difference in the service is that it will be powered by solar panels as some 438 were installed on the roof of the historic building earlier this year after the roof was restored.
Now listen to the carol sung as part of the nine service from Kings in 2015
King's College Cambridge 2015 # 1 Once in Royal David's City descant Willcocks