UK Launches New Postage Stamps with the Image of King Charles III, Going On Sale Next April

Pranko Raja Charles III. (Twitter/@RoyalMail)

JAKARTA - A new everyday postage stamp featuring the image of King Charles III has been officially unveiled, one of the most recent changes in the UK following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

From coins and banknotes to the official royal cipher used by the government, Britain has slowly introduced replacements featuring the new king since the death of her mother in September 2022.

In keeping with tradition since the first Penny Black in 1840, the new "definitive" postage uses an adapted version of the portrait of King Charles III which also appears on the new currency.

"Like all postage stamps, the king approved it and we hope he is happy with this design," said David Gold, director of foreign affairs & policy at the Royal Mail.

"The guidance that was given to us was not to try to be too smart or to try to veer in a different direction, but very much to maintain the traditional image that we are all so used to," he said.

The new stamps, which will go on general sale in early April, consist only of the king's head and value on a plain color background.

"There is precedent for kings not wearing crowns," Gold said.

Charles III is known to be the seventh monarch of England to appear on a definitive seal.

Later, although the new stamps have been circulated, the old stamps with Queen Elizabeth II's image will remain valid and distributed until stocks run out, Royal Mail added.

Today, we reveal our new definitive stamp featuring the image of King Charles III.

The image of HM The King is an adapted version of the portrait created by Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint.

The stamps will go on general sale from 4 April 2023. pic.twitter.com/TbKlmclO5X

— Royal Mail (@RoyalMail) February 8, 2023