Royal Mail reveals image of King Charles for stamps
They'll go on sale in April
Last updated 8th Feb 2023
The image of the King which will feature on first and second class stamps has been revealed, with a Royal Mail executive describing it as a "defining part" of his reign.
For the first time Charles' portrait will appear on stamps in his role as monarch, and the simple, uncluttered design draws inspiration from stamps that featured the late Queen.
Royal Mail's director of external affairs and policy, David Gold, said they received guidance from the King to maintain "continuity" and Charles did not want existing stamp stocks showing the Queen pulped, but used up over time.
The new stamp design features Charles' head and neck and the King is shown facing left, as all monarchs have done since the 'Penny Black', the world's first postage stamp, was issued in 1840 with Queen Victoria's image.
'Continuity' requested by King
Mr Gold said: "The guidance we got from His Majesty was more about continuity and not doing anything too different to what had gone before.
"I think perhaps there's an acknowledgement that, for 70 years people have been so used to seeing the image of Her Majesty, even though actually the current image only started in 1967, they didn't want to do anything too different to what had gone before.
"Personally, I think what marks this stamp out is that there is no embellishment at all, no crown, just simply the face of the human being, on the plain background, almost saying, 'this is me and I'm at your service', which I think in this modern age is actually rather humbling."
The King's image is used on definitive stamps, sometimes referred to as "every day" stamps, that have just the monarch's head and value of the stamp on a plain coloured background with a barcode alongside.
British artist, Martin Jennings, made a profile sculpture of Charles for the Royal Mint who were creating UK coins and a team for the Royal Mail adapted an image of the artwork, adjusting and relighting the picture for use on the new stamps.
Commenting on the efforts of the Royal Mail team who began working on the project following the Queen's death in September, Mr Gold added: "I don't underestimate how challenging it was for them.
"But also I know that I can say on their behalf how privileged they felt to be able to work on this project... it will forever be a part of history. It's a clear, defining part of the reign of King Charles."
The stamps go on sale from April 4 but collectors and the general public can now register their interest on Royal Mail's website.
Post offices and other retailers will not start selling the new stamps until their stocks featuring the late Queen are sold.
Mr Gold said: "The King gave very clear directions he didn't want anything to be pulped, he didn't want things being shredded, he didn't want stock being thrown away.
"He was very clear, however long it takes you to clear the stock there's no rush, and that's entirely in line with his well stated principles on waste and environmentalism."
The new first class stamp will form part of an exhibition at London'sPostal Museum about the nation's definitive stamps called The King's Stamp, which runs until September 23.
The display will celebrate the newest stamp design with a unique chance to see a sheet of King Charles III first class stamps before they are in public circulation.
King Charles - a life in pictures:
King Charles is born (1948)
Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor was born to then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on November 14th, 1948, as the couple's first child.
King Charles in 1952
When his grandfather George VI died and his mother ascended to the throne in 1952, Charles became the future heir of the monarchy at the age of four.
He also became the Duke of Cornwall. When he was 21, in 1969, he became entitled to the full income of the Duchy and took over its management.
Charles' childhood
Growing up, Charles went to a boarding school for his education, studying at Gordonstoun private school in the north-east of Scotland.
Charles' experience at the school helped to shape him, saying in an interview that he was glad to have attended.
King Charles at university
After finishing his A-Levels, Charles broke with royal tradition and went straight to university, where he obtained a 2:2 in a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge in 1970. This made Charles the first British heir to attain a university degree.
Investiture of the Prince of Wales
In 1969, the Investiture of the Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle, where Charles was crowned by the Queen as the Prince of Wales.
King Charles in the Navy
King Charles served in the Navy between 1971 to 1976. He trained as a Royal Air Force pilot and served on the frigate HMS Jupiter as part of its Pacific voyage.
King Charles and Diana (1981)
In 1981, Prince Charles married Diana Spencer in the most-watched television event at the time. Over 1 billion people looked on as the Prince and Princess of Wales made their wedding vows.
The marriage birthed Charles' only children - William and Harry, but would end in tragedy as the couple would divorce in 1992. Princess Diana would later die in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Prince William's first day at Eton College
The King and Princess of Wales and brother Prince Harry join Prince William for his first day at Eton College in September 1995.
Assassination attempt
Following his divorce from Diana, Charles continued to carry out royal duties. Whilst on a tour of Australia in 1994, King Charles was shot at twice by student David Kang.
David Kang was protesting about the treatment of Cambodian asylum seekers in Australia. Charles was not hurt and managed to dodge the bullet.
King Charles and Camilla
King Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, 13 years after his divorce from Diana. Because this was Charles' second marriage, he was unable to get married in a church and instead held a civil wedding. Charles' parents did not attend the ceremony, due to the Queen's role as head of the Church of England. Following their marriage, Camilla would go on to receive the title of 'Duchess of Cornwall'.
Media presence
Prince Charles has kept his life relatively private following his marriage to Camilla. The Prince rarely spoke to newspapers and occasionally appeared on television, in order to maintain his privacy.
However, Charles has tried his hand at a number of positions, including presenting the weather for BBC Scotland while on a trip to Glasgow in 2012.
Charity work
Over 40 years Prince Charles has set up 20 charities, he has been a keen supporter of charity work, setting up the Prince's Trust in 1976 to help vulnerable people get their life back on track.
Since then, Charles has been a vocal supporter of human rights, calling for more action against abuse worldwide. Most recently, the Prince commissioned a series of portraits of seven Holocaust survivors in early 2022.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort
Following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles immediately became King Charles III on 8th September.
In the days following his mother's death, he met members of the public with his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort.
On 10th September, an historic meeting at St James' Palace confirmed his role of King.
King Charles III delivers his first address to parliament
King Charles said he felt "the weight of history" as he addressed parliament for the first time as King, adding he vowed to follow the example set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.