King Charles’ portrait will appear on new British banknotes from June 5th. These will then be put into circulation, as the Bank of England announced on Wednesday. The King will then appear on five, ten, £20 and £50 notes. They will be circulated alongside banknotes depicting the late Queen Elizabeth, which will remain valid.
The new design was presented more than a year ago. New banknotes bearing Charles’ image will only be printed to replace worn-out notes and to meet any surge in demand, the central bank announced. This approach corresponds to the requirements of the royal family and aims to minimize the ecological and financial effects of the change.
The new banknotes featuring the portrait of the 75-year-old monarch, who is known for his commitment to the environment, will come into circulation “very slowly,” the Bank of England added. Charles became king in 2022 following the end of his mother Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. He will be the second British monarch to have his likeness featured on central bank notes. The British Royal Mint began issuing the first coins with its profile for general circulation at the end of 2022. King Charles is currently being treated for cancer.