The fabric of UK life is changing. Here's how.
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From the national anthem to banknotes and stamps to passports,many material changes will kick in following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of Charles III.
Coins and stamps
King Charles III’s face will begin to appear on coins and banknotes in the UK and other countries around the world, replacing Queen Elizabeth II.
His effigy will also appear on several other currencies used in the Eastern Caribbean, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The same will apply for other islands and territories controlled by the British Crown.
Coins had been minted during King Edward VIII’s 326-day reign in 1936, but the monarch abdicated before they could come into circulation.
The face of the late Queen also appears on postage stamps, and the acronym EIIR, for Elizabeth II Regina, is affixed to post boxes, so this too will need to be changed.
This also applies for the insignia on police helmets.
God Save The King
The British national anthem, previously "God Save The Queen", will become "God Save The King", with a masculinised version of the lyrics.
This change will undoubtedly come as a challenge for many in Britain, who have been singing "God Save the Queen" since 1952.
The hymn represents one of New Zealand’s two national anthems and is the royal anthem of Australia and Canada, both of which have their own national anthem.
The wording on the inside cover of UK passports -- which are issued in the name of the crown -- will need to be updated.
A similar text appears in Australian, Canadian and New Zealand passports.
Upon raising a glass during official meetings, "The Queen" will now be replaced with "The King". In the Channel Islands, the unofficial French phrase used when toasting (“La reine, notre duc", or “The Queen, our duke”) will become "Le roi, notre duc" (“The King”).
His Majesty
The names of Her Majesty's Government ("Her Majesty"), Treasury and Customs will now be substituted with "His Majesty". It will now be the King’s Speech, and not that of the queen, which will open the parliamentary session by presenting the government’s programme to parliament.
The Queen's Guard, a favourite for tourists visiting Buckingham Palace, will also change its name.
The police will no longer preserve the peace of the queen but that of the king, and barristers’ office will change from being called “QC ("Queen's counsel") to KC ("King's counsel").
Prisoners will no longer be held at the pleasure of "Her Majesty", but will continue their imprisonment at that of "His Majesty" the King.
In the army, new recruits will no longer take "the queen's shilling" when enlisting, as the formula indicates. Nor will they have to submit to the Queen's regulations.
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The name of "Her Majesty's Theatre" in London's West End theatre district, where popular musical “The Phantom of the Opera" has been performed since 1986, will now also change.
FAQs
Passports will now use the wording "His Majesty", with the era finally ending for passports using "Her Majesty", for the late Queen Elizabeth II. The last time "His Majesty" appeared on a passport was in the reign of King George VI, which ended in 1952.
What happens to postboxes when the Queen dies? ›
In line with past practice, following the death of a monarch all existing post boxes will remain unchanged. Postboxes already in production or being prepared for installation, will also retain the insignia of Queen Elizabeth II.
Did the Queen know she was dying? ›
While the contents of the letters may never be disclosed, it's clear that the Queen knew her death was near and planned accordingly. The Queen also left behind her list of candidates to join the order of Merit — her final royal duty.
Will er on post boxes change? ›
Postboxes will not be updated with CR. It is tradition for the postboxes to bear the royal cypher of the monarch that reigned when the postbox was installed. Therefore, all postboxes with the ER cypher were installed in the past 70 years.
Are passports going to change? ›
Next Generation Passport
We started issuing a next generation U.S. passport book in 2021. The book has new features, such as a polycarbonate data page, laser engraving, and updated artwork. This is an image that illustrates the features of a next generation U.S. passport.
What has changed since the Queen's death? ›
For 70 years, the Queen was stitched into the fabric of the U.K. Her face was on coins, banknotes, and stamps, while her title Her Majesty was emblazoned on everything from prisons to postboxes. Now, Charles' image is ever-present and the official language of government has switched to His Majesty.
What happens to the Queen's clothes when she dies? ›
“Items from the Queen's personal collection would have been passed to her family members with each chosen personally by Her Majesty. Like any treasured heirloom, these are certainly very special pieces,” Ross stated.
Did the Queen leave a letter before she died? ›
Synopsis. Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96, reportedly left a sealed death-bed letter for her son and heir, King Charles III. Biographer Robert Hardman, in his book "Charles III: New King.
What happens with money when the Queen dies? ›
New banknotes featuring King Charles are expected to enter circulation by mid-2024. Current banknotes featuring the portrait of the Queen will continue to be legal tender and will eventually be removed from circulation once they become worn or damaged.
What were the Queen's last words? ›
Liz Truss has revealed the late Queen's final words to her in their first and only official meeting. Queen Elizabeth II is said to have told the then-prime minister: “I'll see you next week” as they met at Balmoral on September 6 2022, just two days before the monarch's death.
Queen Elizabeth II's final moments in Balmoral were "very peaceful" and without pain, a memo by her private secretary reportedly says. Sir Edward Young wrote she "slipped away" in her sleep when she died and "wouldn't have been aware of anything".
What was the Queen buried in? ›
Her funeral last year culminated in a committal service and private burial at the King George VI Memorial Chapel (part of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle) in the evening. The Queen was buried alongside her mother, father and sister.
What does the R in CR stand for? ›
The meaning is quite simple: 'CR' stands for 'Charles Rex'. A letter franked with The King's Royal Cypher (Picture: Yui Mok – Pool/Getty Images) Charles is, of course, The King's first name and regnal name (sometimes, monarchs choose to reign under an official name, rather than their actual first name).
What do e and r stand for? ›
The “E and R” stand for Elizabeth Regina. Regina is Latin for Queen. The “II” means she is the second to bear the name on the throne of England.
What does CR mean on Beefeater? ›
ER will be replaced with CR, standing for Charles Rex, which means king in Latin. It may also be written at CIIIR, representing that the king is King Charles the third.
Will passports change now Charles is King? ›
On July 18, 2023, the U.K.'s government announced that, “New British passports will now bear the title 'His Majesty' for the first time since 1952.” The new monarch's full title “His Majesty King Charles III,” will appear on passports issued starting this week.
Will my new passport say his majesty? ›
2019 – The new blue passport will be phased in from October 2019, in line with the new passport contract. 2023 – For the first time since 1952, passports are issued under the title “His Majesty”, in the name of King Charles III.
What to do with old passports when someone dies? ›
You can return the person's passport to the Department of State (DOS) for cancellation. (See “How do I cancel the passport of a deceased relative?” for instructions.) This helps prevent identity theft. The DOS will send the canceled passport back if you want it or they can destroy it.
When someone dies what happens to their passport? ›
We can either:
cancel it and dispose of it safely on your behalf, or • cancel and then return it to you.
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