Charles III is the second British monarch to be shown on a banknote.
The Bank of England released his portrait for the banknotes, which was derived from an original photograph provided by Buckingham Palace in 2013 and then modified as he aged over the years.
Charles, without a crown, will be featured on the front of all polymer banknotes, including the £5, £10, £20, and £50, with no additional modifications to the previous designs.
These new banknotes will enter circulation by the middle of 2024, while the present banknotes picturing the late Queen will remain legal currency.
The Bank of England has presented a depiction of King Charles III for its banknotes, based on an authentic photograph of the monarch donated by Buckingham Palace in 2013.
These new banknotes are expected to enter circulation by the middle of 2024, while those featuring the late Queen will remain legal money.
The first note to feature her portrait, or that of any British monarch, was the 1960 £1 note.
The image of the King will display on the front of the notes and in the security window.
The back of the banknotes, which depicts historical figures, will stay untouched, allowing existing security mechanisms to be used to verify them.
In accordance with Royal Household directives to minimize the environmental and financial impact of this shift, new banknotes will only be issued to replace worn banknotes and to meet any rise in demand for banknotes.
Therefore, notes depicting both the late Queen and her son will circulate simultaneously.
Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey stated prior to the announcement, ‘I am quite delighted that the Bank is unveiling the design of our new banknotes, which will include an image of King Charles III.
“This is a momentous occasion, as the King is the second monarch to appear on our banknotes.” People will be able to use these new bills beginning in 2024, when they reach circulation.
The new image of Charles depicts the monarch wearing what appear to be his Garter Robes and looking slightly to the left.
The back of the banknotes, which depicts historical figures, will stay untouched, enabling them to be inspected using existing security mechanisms.
Charles III is the second British monarch to be shown on a banknote.
The reverse of the banknotes, featuring historical figures, will remain unchanged, allowing them to be checked using existing security features
The Bank of England has issued banknotes since the 17th century, but – unlike coins – they did not carry a portrait of the reigning king until relatively recently, instead employing an image of “Britannia.”
The UK Treasury granted the Bank of England permission to put the late Queen’s face on a new series of banknotes in 1956.
In 1960, the first Bank of England note to contain her portrait was the £1 bill. In 1961, a 10 shilling note was introduced.
Charles III today becomes only the second British monarch to appear on a banknote
Both banknotes featured the same portrait of the late Queen wearing the Diamond Diadem by banknote designer Robert Austin, which also appeared on numerous other banknotes and stamps.
It was criticized for being a severe and unrealistic depiction of a royal figure.
»New banknotes featuring the face of King Charles III instead of Queen Elizabeth II«