Rangers started Sunday saluting the Queen but by full-time it was their Colombian king soaking up the plaudits.
The Ibrox social media team got the royal seal of approval from their punters for a tweet honouring Elizabeth II and her Platinum Jubilee.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have been just as pleased to see his side show they’re not ready to give up their crown with a stunning response to their Old Firm nightmare.
The Light Blues fans turned out looking to catch a glimpse of their new Prince of Wales, Aaron Ramsey against Hearts.
But Morelos remains lord of the manor after a display which got the blue blood pumping on his return from international duty, which forced him to miss Wednesday’s Parkhead clash.
The 25-year-old is central to Rangers ’ hopes of clawing their way back to the top of the table, as he demonstrated while killing off the Gorgie men with a brilliant brace.
That took his tally to 14 for the season and – with further goals from Glen Kamara, Scott Arfield and Fashion Sakala – it was just what the fans were looking for after their side’s derby humiliation.
Everything that was missing from their display in Glasgow’s east end – commitment, desire, tempo – was there in spades. Ryan Jack was also back to make his first start after a year of injury hell and the Scotland star’s control in midfield alongside John Lundstram – handed a surprise start in place of Kamara – will give van Bronckhorst hope his team will never again be brushed aside as easily as they were by the Hoops.
Ramsey got a 15-minute cameo but Gers did not need the on-loan Juventus star to stick the knife into Robbie Neilson’s third-placed Jambos, who were again without Rangers’ pre-contract signing John Souttar.
Another first-half blitz from Ange Postecoglou’s new league leaders at Motherwell earlier in the day meant there was even more pressure on the Light Blues as they kicked off.
But they ensured they did not lose further ground on their bitter rivals with their own jet-fuelled first half.
They would have raced ahead in six minutes had Morelos not been on his heels as Ryan Kent slung a teasing low effort a fraction past the far post.
But that was about the only mistake the striker made on a sensational return to action.
Five minutes later Jack spread the ball out to Calvin Bassey, who then sent Kent speeding in behind Alex Cochrane.
This time Morelos was on the spot to meet Kent’s whipped-in cross with a firm finish.
Rangers had set up camp in Hearts’ half and Joe Aribo dragged a shot wide after robbing Cochrane while Kent pushed another effort inches past the far post after a clever reverse pass from Morelos.
With just two goals this season, it’s an area the former Liverpool ace must improve, especially when Jota and Liel Abada have jointly chipped in with 22 across the city.
But he’s not the only member of Van Bronckhorst’s squad that could do with sharpening up their finishing.
James Tavernier had a free-kick that was never troubling Craig Gordon, while Jack’s attempt to dust off some ring rust ended with a shot that trundled straight at the keeper.
The Jambos had struggled to breathe under suffocating pressure for most of the first half and looked grateful only to be one down as the clock ticked towards the break.
Yet they might have snuck down the tunnel level had Connor Goldson not flung himself in front of Cochrane as the defender snuck into the box.
That was a let-off for Gers – and they got another two within two minutes of the restart.
First Nathaniel Atkinson flashed a shot across Allan McGregor’s goal, then Cammy Devlin fired into the side netting after a woeful Bassey back-pass.
That set the fans’ nerves jangling but with Jack’s composure in midfield, that mini storm soon passed.
And the jeers were replaced by cheers as Morelos pounced again on 63 minutes.
The Colombian made it nine goals in his last eight meetings with Hearts when, after picking up possession just outside the box, his pass to Arfield bounced back off Stephen Kingsley.
Morelos didn’t need a second invitation to sweep home a sublime left-foot finish.
Gordon denied the striker a hat-trick when Morelos burst through moments later.
But the Scotland keeper could do nothing as substitute Kamara gave Cochrane the slip to race through on a Morelos pass and slot home in the 72nd minute.
It was the perfect reply from the Finland international who suffered the ignominy of being dropped after being he was hooked at half-time against Celtic.
Gers weren’t done there though and added a fourth with quarter of an hour left. Arfield played a sweet one-two with Kent before beating Gordon at the second attempt.
And Kent was the architect again with six minutes remaining.
He sped past Toby Sibbick and it looked like he was trying to tee up Ramsey for a debut goal but Sakala got their first to steer home.
Rangers have been dethroned for now but we can expect a battle royal for the title in the weeks ahead.
