The new £5 note featuring an image of King Charles. Photo: Bank of England
The Bank of England has unveiled its first bank notes featuring King Charles. They will enter into circulation from the middle of 2024 to gradually replace those featuring his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Charles became king in September following the Queen's death after 70 years on the throne.
The new £5, £10, £20 and £50 polymer bank notes feature a portrait of Charles on the front, as well as a cameo of him in the bank notes' see-through security window, but are otherwise unchanged from their current designs.
"This is a significant moment, as the King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes," BoE governor Andrew Bailey said in a statement.
The Bank of England said, following guidance from the Royal household, the new notes would only be printed to replace worn notes or to meet increased demand, in order to minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change.
The Queen first appeared on BoE bank notes in 1960, in contrast to British coins which have long featured images of the country's rulers.
Britain's Royal Mint began issuing the first coins featuring Charles's profile into general circulation on 8 December.
The BoE does not intend to withdraw bank notes featuring Queen Elizabeth until they are worn out, so the two types of note will both be in circulation for some years.
- Reuters /BBC