The first banknotes bearing the effigy of Charles III, who became king after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, will enter circulation in mid-2024 in the United Kingdom. They were unveiled on Tuesday by the Bank of England.
“The king’s portrait will appear on the existing models of the four banknotes” of 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds, “without further modification” in their design, the central bank announced in a press release.
The image of Charles III will appear instead of his mother’s face on the front of the banknotes and inset in the transparent security window, according to the visuals unveiled by the monetary institute.
The portrait of Charles III will appear on the existing models of the four banknotes of 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds. [THE BANK OF ENGLAND – AFP]
Portrait from 2013
The portrait is an engraving made from a photo “provided by the royal family in 2013” and the visuals, finalized in recent months, have been validated by the monarch, said a spokesperson for the Bank of England.
Polymer banknotes – which have gradually replaced paper money in the UK since 2016 – will be produced on a large scale from the first half of 2023 before entering circulation the following year.
![British pound clippings depicting Queen Elizabeth II. [Andy Rain - EPA/Keystone]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rts.ch/2022/09/09/14/44/13371333.image?mw=1280&ssl=1 "British pound clippings depicting Queen Elizabeth II. [Andy Rain - EPA/Keystone]")
Banknotes bearing the image of Elizabeth II will continue to circulate in parallel and will only be withdrawn when they are damaged to “minimize the environmental and financial impact” of the change of monarch, following the directives of the Royal House, specifies the communicated.
>> Read also: King Charles III will be crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London
Coins already in circulation
The first coins bearing the effigy of Charles III entered circulation at the beginning of December, appearing in post offices across the country. In 1936, during the reign of King Edward VIII, which lasted 326 days, coins had been minted, but the monarch abdicated before they came into circulation.
![The official portrait that will decorate future coins bearing the effigy of Charles III, the work of sculptor Martin Jennings, was designed from a photo and approved by the king. [TOM HARRISON HANDOUT - KEYSTONE]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rts.ch/2022/10/11/19/37/13456922.image?mw=1280&ssl=1 "The official portrait that will decorate future coins bearing the effigy of Charles III, the work of sculptor Martin Jennings, was designed from a photo and approved by the king. [TOM HARRISON HANDOUT - KEYSTONE]")
Some 27 billion coins are currently in circulation in the UK, bearing the face of the late Elizabeth II: they too will remain valid and will only be replaced when damaged or worn.
>> Listen to the Le Point J podcast episode “Why are there still kings and queens in Europe?”:
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