27th September, 2022
The introduction of new British banknotes and stamps featuring King Charles III’s image will be implemented gradually.
The Royal Mail and Bank of England on Tuesday said they have received guidance from Charles’ royal household aimed at minimising cost and ensuring a sustainable transition.
The updated banknotes bearing the portrait of the King will be revealed by the end of the year, the Bank of England has said.
The notes are expected to enter circulation by mid-2024, with Charles’ portrait appearing on the existing designs of the £5, £10, £20, and £50 banknotes.
The Royal Mail also confirmed the King’s image will replace Queen Elizabeth II on new 1st and 2nd Class definitive stamps, as well as all those of other values.
Issues of special stamps will also feature a silhouette of Charles.
The Royal Mail said: “In line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimize the environmental and financial impact of the change of monarch, existing stocks of definitive stamps that feature the late Queen and the special stamps which use her silhouette will be distributed and issued as planned.”
The launch dates of some of the special stamps may change.
“New stamps featuring King Charles will enter circulation once current stocks of stamps are exhausted.’’
The Bank of England issued a press release with similar wording, saying existing stocks of notes featuring the Queen would continue to be issued and new notes would only be printed to replace worn ones and meet the demand for new notes.
Notes featuring the Queen’s portrait would continue to be legal tender and only be removed if worn or damaged.
Charles’ passion for promoting sustainability and the environment when he was the Prince of Wales is well known and ranged from him addressing the Cop26 Climate Change summit, to recycling the bathwater from his Clarence House home to water his garden.
The Royal Mint has said coins stamped with the image of the King are likely to enter circulation in several months.
The Royal Mint said coins featuring the late monarch will also remain legal tender and in active circulation, something that has happened in the past, which ensures a smooth transition with minimal environmental impact and cost.
There are approximately 27 billion coins circulating in the UK stamped with the Queen’s image, and these will be replaced over time as they become damaged or worn, and to meet the demand for additional coins.
The King’s new cipher has been revealed, and over the coming years and months, it will gradually appear on government buildings, state documents, and on some post boxes.
The cipher features the King’s initial C intertwined with the letter R for Rex—Latin for King—with III within the R denoting Charles III, with the crown above the letters.
dpa/NAN