As the royal family’s period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II ends, the new monogram to be used by King Charles as the UK’s new monarch has been presented and used for the first time. The College of Arms created King Charles III’s new cypher, which features the monarch’s initial, C, entwined with the Latin letter R for Rex, which stands for King, and III indicated within the letter R with the imperial Crown above the letters.
Over the next few months and years, the all-gold royal monogram will replace the Queen’s cypher E II R on various official documents, documents used in public agencies, and street furniture around the UK. The new cypher was initially used to create a frank or stamp post at Buckingham Palace’s Court Post Office. According to the palace, “the post room at Buckingham Palace deals with around 200,000 items of mail each year, including invitations to events, replies to letters and cards received from members of the public, and state business.”
Since its establishment in 1484, the College of Arms in the UK has created and updated official registries of coats of arms and pedigrees. The King would select the new cypher design from various alternatives the College of Arms created. Lord Lyon, King of Arms, approved a Scottish version that included the Scottish Crown.
Governmental structures, official papers, and some post boxes will use the new monarch’s monogram; however, private organisations may decide to switch from the Queen to the King’s cypher. The transition is anticipated to be gradual. A former monarch’s cypher may continue to be used for many years, just as those of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, and King George VI may still be seen on some post boxes in the UK.
The Bank of England anticipates King Charles III’s image appearing on banknotes by the middle of 2024, among other modifications brought on by the shift in the King. By the end of this year, that new portrait replacing the late Queen’s should be made public. The design of the new coins produced by the UK’s Royal Mint, “in line with demand from banks and post offices,” has not yet been revealed. The Royal Mint Museum states that it is customary for a new monarch’s profile to appear on coins facing the other way from that of their ancestor.