King Charles banknotes in use from today
You could soon find one of the new King Charles banknotes in your pocket
King Charles will start appearing on our money from today, with banknotes featuring his portrait being issued from today.
The new Bank of England notes will co-circulate alongside those featuring Queen Elizabeth II.
The portrait of Charles will appear on all four banknotes – the £5, £10, £20 and £50 – with the rest of the design of the note staying the same.
However it's likely to take a long time for the new notes to start appearing in our change.
There are more than 4.6 billion Bank of England notes in circulation, worth about £82 billion.
In line with guidance from the Royal Household, the new notes will only be printed to replace those that are worn, and to meet any overall increase in demand.
The approach aims to minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said: “We’re very pleased to be issuing the new King Charles banknotes.
“This is a historic moment, as it’s the first time we’ve changed the sovereign on our notes.
“We know that cash is important for many people, and we are committed to providing banknotes for as long as the public demand them. Bringing these new notes into circulation is a demonstration of that commitment.”
King Charles praised the new notes with his portrait as “very well designed” and expressed his surprise at being only the second monarch to feature.
Although the Bank of England started to produce banknotes in the 17th century, Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first British sovereign to be given the honour in 1960 on a £1 paper note.
Where can I get the new King Charles banknotes?
People will be able to snap up the new-look currency at selected Post Office branches.
Here are the locations and postcodes for the Post Office branches where the notes will be available first on launch day, with a gradual rollout to others in the coming weeks:
Piccadilly Plaza (Manchester), M2 1BB
Sunderland City, SR1 1RR
Portsmouth, PO1 1AB
Birmingham, B2 4AA
The City of London, EC2M 5TE
Moorgate, EC2M 5TE
Broadway, SW1H 0AX
Great Massingham, PE31 6HP
Tetbury, GL8 8DB
Minchinhampton, GL6 9BN
Windsor, SL4 1AA
Houndsditch, E1 7BS
Woodstock, OX20 1SP
Poundbury, DT1 3AZ
The chosen Post Offices will initially have £5, £10 and £20 denominations of the new banknotes.
Thousands more Post Offices will receive the new-look currency over the coming days and weeks.
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