Public able to make official coin of King

Visitors to the Royal Mint Experience can strike a £2 coin, bearing Charles' portrait

Author: Jon BurkePublished 6th Jan 2023

For the first time. visitors to the Royal Mint Experience will be able to strike a £2 denomination coin bearing the King's portrait.

The "tails" side of the coin, which can be struck from today, features a design to celebrate physician Edward Jenner, who pioneered the concept of vaccines.

More than 227,800 coins have already been struck by visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales, since it opened in 2016.

Previously, visitors have been able to strike their own memorial coin for Queen Elizabeth II and as well as a Harry Potter 50p.

The Mint said it is the first time visitors can strike a £2 denomination coin featuring Charles's effigy.

Visitor attraction manager, Dan Johnson, said: "The change of monarch is such a significant occasion in UK history and we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors to the Royal Mint Experience and offer them the opportunity to be a part of this momentous historical occasion."

Visitors will be charged an additional £7.50 to strike their own coin as part of their tour.

The £2 coin, celebrating Edward Jenner, will also be available to buy from the Royal Mint's website from January 26.

King Charles III - 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.

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