What does "long live the king" mean?

Question

My nephew was watching Lion King and right before Mufasa dies Scar says "long live the king". Also in Robin Hood (disney) He say "Long live king richard" right before he is about to be killed (robin)

Answer 1

it is that a monachy (knowing as comming from a country with one) is a figure head and in the past a leader of that country and so saying long lives means u want a long and prosperause raighn from them

Answer 2

When Scar says it, it's meant to be sarcastic because he's about to kill the king.  

Answer 3

Even though I don't know much about "royalty", I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a sign of respect towards the king.

Answer 4

When the old king dies it is common to say, "The king is dead. Long live the king!" Meaning the monarchy never dies even when the person of the king does. The old king is dead and the next in line is immediately the new king so long live him! (Being "crowned" king is a separate ceremony.)

When a character murders a king in a movie or such they often say "long live the king" in an ironic sense usually said by the person who will become king or the person who has hired the assassin.

Answer 5

It means exactly what it says- long live the king! They're saying that they want the king to live a long life. Scar, however, was being sarcastic.

Answer 6

maybe is supposed to be a sort of irony or sarcasm