Musically, the song was a result of experimentation and jamming, with Marr and rhythm section Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce using technology in the studio to enhance their performances.

Inspired by the political tone of the lyric, Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote the music by drawing on MC5 and the Velvet Underground's "I Can't Stand It",[3] a song which had been unreleased by the band until it appeared on an archival compilation in 1985.

[2] Upon Rourke's death in 2023, Marr added: "Watching him play bass on the song The Queen is Dead was so impressive that I said to myself 'I'll never forget this moment.

[1] The song also draws for lyrical inspiration upon the incident when Michael Fagan trespassed in Buckingham Palace and encountered Queen Elizabeth II.

[1] Per Morrissey's request, the song begins with a snippet of "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty", sung by actress Cicely Courtneidge in the 1962 film The L-Shaped Room.

The song's lyrics attracted controversy in the music press—Morrissey recalled an incident where a magazine, much to his dismay, falsely reported that he apologized to the Queen.

[7] To promote the 2017 collector's edition rerelease of The Queen Is Dead, the title track was released exclusively as a limited-edition vinyl single in seven and twelve-inch forms.

"[12] Mark Coleman of Rolling Stone praised the song for "parod[ying] media fascination with the royal family over bombastic guitar bursts and an aggressive bass line".