Banknotes, stamps, passports… how will they change with the passing of Queen Elizabeth?

Last Updated on 09/29/2022 by てんしょく飯

All portraits and names of monarchs will be replaced by the new King Charles III from the Queen.

In the United Kingdom, the portrait of the former head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, is now used on everything from postage stamps to banknotes. What will happen to those things now that a new monarch, King Charles, has been born?　Check them out here.

Banknotes and Coins

From the 1-cent coin to the 50-pound bill, all coins and bills in the United Kingdom now bear the portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

Following her death, the Bank of England, the central bank, issued a statement honoring Queen Elizabeth, “the first monarch to be depicted on banknotes issued by the Bank of England,” and her reign, and explaining the future of legal tender as follows

The current bills bearing the Queen’s image will continue to be legal tender, and we will make a further announcement on the bills currently in circulation after the mourning period is over.”

Stamps

The postal operator Royal Mail has issued a statement saying that stamps bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth will remain available after her death “on both ordinary stamps (with her portrait on a plain background) and special stamps”.

National Anthem

Since King Charles III became monarch, the national anthem of the United Kingdom has been changed from “Long Live the Queen” (or “God preserve the Queen”) to “Long Live the King” (or “God preserve the King”). In the lyrics, “Queen” is changed to “King” and pronouns (e.g., “Her” becomes “His”) are changed.

Also, new Prime Minister Liz Truss, speaking to the nation after the Queen’s death, concludes her message with the words “God save the King.

Passports

British passports contain a sentence at the beginning of them that includes the words “Her Majesty the Queen”. Following the Queen’s death, that part of the newly issued passport will be replaced with “Her Majesty the King.

However, the passports currently held by citizens may continue to be used until their expiration date.

Prayer

Since the reign of Henry VIII, the “Defender of the Faith,” meaning the head of the Church of England, has been the monarch. With the death of Queen Elizabeth, Charles III has already taken over the position.

The Anglican Prayer Book, the prayer book of the Church of England, contains a prayer in honor of Her Majesty the Queen, but that part is already being changed to the new monarch, Charles III.

Other religions that include Queen Elizabeth’s name in their prayers, such as Judaism, are also changing the Queen’s name to that of King Charles.