Banknotes featuring King Charles III enter circulation in UK

The Bank of England announced that banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles III entered circulation for the first time on Wednesday.

These new notes, available in denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50, will display Charles’ image on the front and include his portrait in the see-through security window, while the overall design of the notes remains unchanged.

In addition to monarchs, UK banknotes honour historical figures such as Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J.M.W. Turner, and Alan Turing.

The images of King Charles III on the banknotes were first unveiled in December 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September of the same year.

The Bank of England confirmed that notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be legal tender and circulate alongside those depicting King Charles III.

Since this tradition began in 1960, only these two monarchs have been featured on banknotes, NBC observes.

“The new banknotes will only be printed to replace worn-out notes and to meet any increase in demand,” the Bank of England stated. “As a result, the public will see the new King Charles III notes gradually.”

“This is a historic moment, as it marks the first time we’ve changed the sovereign on our notes,” said Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.

Additionally, individuals will have the option to exchange their existing notes for those featuring King Charles III.

The Bank of England also announced plans to auction low-serial-numbered notes in the coming months, with proceeds going to charity.

Coins bearing the portrait of King Charles III have already been introduced, following the tradition that the direction of the profile alternates with each new monarch.