Queen Elizabeth II's Response to Her Image on the Royal Mint's Coins

King Charles III Reacts to Seeing His Face on British Money

Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles III has been chosen to be featured on the Bank of England's banknotes. The 75-year-old monarch received the new £5, £10, £20, and £50 bills with his portrait on them on Tuesday, April 9. The notes were presented to Charles at Buckingham Palace by Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, and Sarah John, the chief cashier and executive director of banking.

Bailey explained to the king that changing the sovereign on the bank notes was a significant moment since the queen had always been on them. Charles found it surprising and noted that one would assume it goes back that way.

He was shown the four lowest denominations, which had a portrait of himself based on a 2013 photo. Unlike his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, he is not wearing a crown in the portrait.

“I was curious to see how it would turn out,” Charles said during the unveiling.

"It's a great picture of Jane Austen and Winston Churchill," he commented while admiring the famous faces displayed on the back of each bill. "These designs are quite classy, I have to admit."

King Charles III Reacts to Seeing His Face on British Money

The monarch took over the throne after Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 in September 2022. His image or symbol had not been included on traditional items until the debut of his banknotes.

His face was first added to stamps in February 2023, and the first passports using the phrase "His Majesty" since 1952 were issued the following July. The transition has been gradual to make the most of existing materials.

The banknotes with the king's image will start circulating on June 5, while bills with the queen's image will continue to be used until they become too worn or damaged.

King Charles III Reacts to Seeing His Face on British Money

Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Tuesday’s meeting was one of the few he has attended since revealing his cancer diagnosis in February. While Charles is undergoing cancer treatment, other senior royals have been filling in for him. Recently, he asked his brother Prince Edward and wife Duchess Sophie for their assistance for the first time.

During a ceremony commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a historic agreement between Britain and France against German ambitions before World War I, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh represented the king. Edward and Sophie inspected the troops alongside French soldiers during a Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Monday, April 8.

Editor's P/S:

The transition to King Charles III's image on banknotes marks a significant chapter in British history. The late Queen Elizabeth II's presence on currency for decades has been a constant in the lives of many, and her absence will be noticeable. However, the inclusion of King Charles's portrait on the new notes serves as a reminder of the changing times and the continuity of the monarchy.

It is interesting to note that King Charles III's portrait does not feature a crown, unlike his mother's. This subtle difference reflects a shift in royal representation, emphasizing the monarch's role as a modern and accessible figure. The gradual transition from Queen Elizabeth II's image to King Charles III's on stamps, passports, and now banknotes has been handled with respect and consideration, allowing for a smooth and dignified changeover.