UK: New coins, banknotes, stamps, cypher for King Charles III

Britain will gradually see coins, banknotes and stamps bearing the image of King Charles, while the new monarch's cypher will also appear on government buildings and red mail pillar boxes, announced manufacturers and the Buckingham Palace, on Tuesday.

As the country begins adapting to its first new head of state after 70 years, the makers of its currency and stamps said they would begin the slow process of switching from using an image of the late Queen Elizabeth to the new king.

"The first coins bearing the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will enter circulation in line with demand from banks and post offices," said Anne Jessopp, the Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Mint.

"This means the coinage of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II will co-circulate in the UK for many years to come."

The replacement process will take some time with the Royal Mint estimating there are some 27 billion coins bearing an effigy of the late queen who died this month.

Likewise, the Bank of England said banknotes with a portrait of Charles were expected to enter circulation by the middle of 2024, and it would reveal images of the updated notes by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the Royal Mail said the current picture of the late queen used on "everyday" stamps would be updated to feature an image of Charles. Those new stamps will enter circulation once the current stock are exhausted.

All existing currency and stamps bearing the queen's image will, however, remain valid.

• Queen Elizabeth II passes away: UK national anthem, currency, passports to change