Royal changes
In September 2022, millions of people around the world mourned Queen Elizabeth II’s death However, the conclusion of her 70-year rule as the British sovereign necessitated changes beyond Princes Charles becoming king —change that affected the Commonwealth, the British people and the royal family tree . “The world is changing, and so is the monarchy,” says British royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “Apart from the most obvious changes following Queen Elizabeth’s death, such as new banknotes, coins or postal boxes, we are also seeing the monarchy gradually modernize itself.”
In the wake of the first anniversary of her death , as royal mourners visit where Queen Elizabeth is buried and familiarize themselves with lesser known Queen Elizabeth facts , we're examining everything that has changed since Britain's longest-ruling monarch died.
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The line of royal inheritance
The passing of Queen Elizabeth initiated a seamless transition in the line of succession to the throne among her children. grandchildren Her eldest child was Charles, who became King Charles III . Prince William He is now the direct heir. Following him in the order of succession are his children: Prince George The eldest child of William and Kate Middleton, though still a schoolboy, holds the second position in the line of succession, with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis following behind him. In theory, Prince Harry is number five, even though it is highly unlikely he would be king, as he is no longer a working royal. His son, Prince Archie, is sixth in the royal line, and his daughter, Princess Lilibet, is seventh.
The British national anthem
The UK national anthem has transitioned from "God Save the Queen" (which is sung during Queen Elizabeth’s coronation ) back to its original form, "God Save the King." Given Queen Elizabeth's lengthy reign, it isn’t surprising that many Britons and Commonwealth citizens needed some adjustment time for the updated lyrics—the remainder of the song remained unchanged. "God Save the King" made its debut performance in London in 1745 and officially became Britain's national anthem during the early part of the 1800s. Similar to the U.S. national anthem, this tune is predominantly played at formal state occasions, royal celebrations, and significant sporting events.
The slimmed-down monarchy
Considering that the monarchy has faced considerable criticism over the financial burden it imposes on British taxpayers, King Charles’s reduced-scale monarchy was met with enthusiasm by numerous people. According to Fitzwilliams, this downsizing of the royal family wasn’t an intentional decision made by Charles but instead evolved organically. " Prince Andrew , the Duke of York no longer represents the Crown, and Prince Harry and Meghan have stepped back from their royal responsibilities," he states. "This leaves the monarchy with only 10 senior members. working royals Including even the king and queen, only four members are below 70 years old. To put it differently: With fewer royal family members participating in official duties, there is less demand for staff, which makes the monarchy somewhat smaller and more cost-effective.
The royal cypher
The British monarch’s monogram, also known as the royal cypher, consists of his or her initials, along with a symbol of the crown and the title Rex (Latin for “king”) or Regina (Latin for “queen”). They appear on some government buildings, state documents, post boxes and more. King Charles’s cypher was designed by the College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of the Commonwealth states, which opened its doors in 1484. The king has personally selected the final version from several designs. And just like with the banknotes and coins, King Charles’s visual identity will gradually replace Queen Elizabeth’s cypher where applicable. The royal cypher is also used to frank letters leaving the royal household.
The monarch’s address
Although Queen Elizabeth resided primarily at Buckingham Palace throughout much of her life, King Charles has chosen differently. Queen Camilla live at Clarence House, among numerous others royal estates And just a short distance from the main palace, the couple relocated to this building in August 2003 after the passing of the Queen Mother. Unlike earlier sovereigns, they've maintained their residence even post-coronation. However, this might change down the line. "Buckingham Palace is presently going through a ten-year restoration," explains Fitzwilliams. "It's expected that King Charles will relocate there upon completion of the renovations." The Queen's old place is scheduled for finishing touches by 2027, giving Charles some additional time to savor his present abode, one he apparently holds dear.
Coins and banknotes
The current king's image appears on coins and banknotes, indicating that the UK needs an updated currency design. Millions of new 50-pence coins featuring King Charles (in accordance with custom, facing the opposite way from his predecessor) entered circulation at the close of 2022. However, notes bearing the monarch's likeness won't emerge until summer 2024. The Bank of England reports that Charles' visage will grace both sides of the transparent security windows on four denominations: £5, £10, £20, and £50 bills. Nonetheless, this does not imply that images of Queen Elizabeth on money will become invalid. "All editions will continue to circulate; older versions will simply phase out over time," explains Fitzwilliams. This approach aligns with King Charles’ intent to reduce the ecological and economic consequences associated with such alterations. As reported by the Royal Mint, there are presently over 4.6 billion banknotes and 29 billion coins circulating within the UK.
Stamps and post boxes
If you cross the Atlantic and plan to mail postcards from over there, be aware of stamps with King Charles’s visage on them. The first new stamps were released in April 2023 and show a minimalist image of the monarch, which, according to the Royal Mail’s director of external affairs, David Gold, was Charles’s special request. Unlike Queen Elizabeth II , the new king does not wear a crown on the picture. King Charles is the seventh monarch to appear on the British stamps (the first one being Queen Victoria in 1840), and stamps featuring his late mother’s portrait will be sold as long as stock lasts.
When discussing the postal service, one can’t miss Britain’s iconic bright red mailboxes featuring Queen Elizabeth’s cipher, which serve as popular photographic attractions for visitors. visiting London And in other regions of the country—they remain a frequent sight—but upcoming versions will incorporate Charles’s initials instead.
Army attire and law enforcement headgear
The uniforms of Britain's military personnel and the headgear used by law enforcement include the royal cipher. Nevertheless, under King Charles’s budget-friendly strategy, no fresh uniforms or caps will be purchased until the current ones have reached their wear limit. This accounts for why not even the officers serving at King Charles’s coronation were adorned with symbols representing his new reign. "Replacing every uniform and hat could take several years," according to Fitzwilliams.
Royalty traveling for official duties and diplomatic trips
Although Queen Elizabeth rarely ventured abroad towards the end of her reign (with Prince William and Princess Kate stepping in for various international trips), Fitzwilliam anticipates this trend will shift significantly. royal travel now that King Charles has ascended the throne. His first official state visit as a monarch took him to Germany in March, where he spent three days meeting Ukrainian refugees, promoting environmental sustainability and showing off his German language skills. A visit to France, planned for the same month, has been postponed until September.
Casual royal engagements
Throughout Queen Elizabeth’s era, royal protocols and codes of conduct were regarded as sacred texts. However, under King Charles III, even high-ranking members of the monarchy appear to have traded their stiff upper-lip demeanor for a more relaxed approach. It's not uncommon to see King Charles engaging in conversations and sharing jokes with royal enthusiasts at public events, whereas Prince William also tends to adopt this casual manner when making official appearances. Princess Kate have frequently embraced strangers and taken photos together—asking for a picture used to be quite taboo not too long ago! "If the monarchy wishes to remain significant, it must evolve alongside the changing times," states Fitzwilliams. This certainly does not imply that the British royal family will abruptly transform into wild revelers. They still have an entire rulebook to adhere to. royal etiquette rules to follow.
Passports
In July 2023, the initial batch of British passports featuring "His Majesty" rather than "Her Majesty" was released in the UK. Queen Elizabeth II Since 1952, her image has been present on official documents, making her a constant presence for most Britons who have never held a travel document without her likeness. Current valid passports do not require updating and can still be used legally until their natural expiration period of ten years. This marks the second alteration in just three years; following Brexit, the burgundy passport was swapped out for the traditional blue version. On another note about passports, it might surprise you to learn that King Charles does not need one anymore when traveling internationally because he signs them himself.
Countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, which include references to the British monarch on their currency, will also be making changes.
Charity work
Over many years, King Charles has founded more than 20 official charitable entities and has backed numerous others. However, since ascending to the throne and ceasing to be the Prince of Wales, he must reduce his involvement in these activities. "The royal household is presently reviewing connections with various groups," explains Fitzwilliams. As a reigning monarch, Charles has reduced availability for his philanthropic endeavors, compounded by the fact that fewer active members of the royal family are available to assist and stand in for him during charity events. Although it remains unclear which specific charities the king will relinquish, it’s certain that he'll continue championing issues close to his heart—particularly environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
Food at the palace
King Charles received praise from animal welfare advocates after prohibiting foie gras across all royal residences. A formal communication with the PETA advocacy organization verified that this delicacy, derived from geese or ducks fattened through forced feeding, will not be purchased nor offered throughout his monarchy. Reports indicate that Charles, who owns an organic farm, ceased providing foie gras at his estates over ten years prior. Additionally, the monarch has consistently advocated for a greater emphasis on plant-based diets due to ethical concerns regarding animals as well as ecological considerations. "Of course, our dietary choices matter," he stated in a BBC interview preceding his ascension to the throne. "I have abstained from eating meat and seafood twice weekly and avoided dairy once per week for many years now. Should others adopt such practices, significant reductions could occur concerning stress placed upon the environment."
King Charles swiftly transformed his statements into actions: The so-called coronation quiche The meal he selected for the day he ascended to power was vegetarian.
Eco-friendly projects at the royal residence
Charles's commitment to combating climate change extends beyond just his dietary choices. For many years, he has been recognized as an active advocate for environmental issues. "Since becoming king, Charles requested that the staff lower the thermostat settings in unused areas of the royal residences and cease heating the swimming pools," explains Fitzwilliams. It is also noted that he replaced traditional gas lamps with energy-efficient electrical alternatives at his home in Clarence House. Additionally, he recycles bathtub water and fuels his Aston Martin using eco-friendly sources. According to Fitzwilliams, "His aim is to reduce carbon emissions and demonstrate ways to lead a more environmentally conscious lifestyle."
The Commonwealth
King Charles is also head of state Of the 14 Commonwealth realms, along with the broader Commonwealth organization comprising 56 sovereign countries, recent developments have not been entirely smooth within his first year. Jamaica and Belize were among the initial nations to declare their intention to explore severing ties with the British monarchy and transitioning towards republican systems with distinct head-of-state figures. Although these Caribbean territories have yet to implement concrete steps toward this end, other member states of the Commonwealth could be inspired to take similar paths forward. "Only time can reveal how matters unfold," remarks Fitzwilliams, "but undoubtedly, this presents a significant test for King Charles."
Citizenship ceremonies
If your plan includes obtaining UK citizenship, you must pledge loyalty to King Charles III rather than Queen Elizabeth II. Individuals aged 18 and older who wish to join this group are obligated to confirm their commitment during an official citizenship ceremony prior to receiving their certification. Remember precisely these words: "I, (your name), vow by the power of Almighty God that upon acquiring British citizenship, I shall remain loyal and faithfully uphold my oath to His Majesty King Charles III, along with his heirs and successors, as prescribed by law." This alteration isn’t limited solely to those from Britain; it extends globally to all Commonwealth citizens too.
Next: find out more about King Charles’ birthday .
About the expert
- Richard Fitzwilliams He is among Britain's leading authorities on royalty. For many years, he has tracked the lives of the royal family and frequently offers his insights through various international media platforms.
Sources:
- The Royal Family : “Succession”
- The Royal Family : “National Anthem”
- The Royal Family : “His Majesty The King’s cypher”
- The Royal Family : “Reservicing Buckingham Palace”
- The Royal Family : “The King”
- The Royal Family : “The Commonwealth”
- Sky News King Charles plans for a 'more budget-friendly' coronation and a 'streamlined' operational monarchy.
- College of Arms : About Us
- Bank of England Banknotes featuring King Charles III
- Bank of England : “Banknote statistics”
- The Guardian UK passports issued under the name of King Charles III for the first time
- The Royal Mint United Kingdom's Minting Statistics for Circulating Coins
- BBC No new stamp features King Charles as king
- BBC Charles III: Ban on foie gras implemented at royal dwellings
- The Telegraph Police have to retain Queen Elizabeth’s emblem until their uniform becomes worn out.
- The Independent “Why was the heat reduced at Buckingham Palace?”
- Metro “Is King Charles III vegetarian or vegan following the announcement of the coronation quiche?”
- Le Monde Both Jamaica and Belize are contemplating transitioning into republics before King Charles' coronation.
- Gov.uk : “Citizenship ceremonies”
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