The Bank of England has unveiled its first banknotes featuring King Charles III, which will come into circulation from mid-2024, gradually replacing notes featuring his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Charles became king in September after 70 years in power, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, who was 96 years old.
The new £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes will only be printed to replace old banknotes and meet increased demand, meaning notes featuring the late Queen and current King will be in circulation at the same time https://t.co/MdTRnn9ilX
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The new £5, 10, 20 and 50 polymer notes will feature a portrait of Prince Charles on the front and a cameo from him in the note’s transparent security window, but the designs will otherwise remain unchanged from the current notes.
“This is a significant moment as the King is only the second monarch to appear on our banknotes,” Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said in a statement on Tuesday.
British coins have long featured portraits of the country’s rulers, but Queen Elizabeth’s portrait first appeared on banknotes in 1960.
The Royal Mint launched the first coins featuring Prince Charles’ profile into general circulation on December 8th.
The Bank of England has no plans to withdraw the Queen’s notes until they are worn out, meaning that both sets of notes will remain in circulation for the next few years.
