Following King Charles III’s ascension to the throne in September, Britain’s Royal Mail started selling the first postage stamps bearing his image on Tuesday.
The monarch’s portrait, was revealed in February and approved by Charles himself. It will now appear alongside the stamp’s value. And barcode on all Royal Mail stamps ahead of his coronation next month.
The so-called “definitive stamp,” designed for daily use, is based on the official effigy found on new UK coins.
Retailers will continue to offer existing Queen Elizabeth II stamps and will be supplied with the new version when supplies run out.
The new stamps are already available for purchase on the website.
The portrait of Charles is based on a portrait made by British sculptor Martin Jennings for new UK coins that are already in circulation.
The new design depicts Charles facing left. As all British monarchs have done on stamps since Queen Victoria released the “Penny Black” as the world’s first postage stamp in 1840.
The announcement also comes a day after the postal service raised stamp rates in order to remain “sustainable,” according to a Royal Mail statement.
The new design was inspired by Arnold Machin’s classic profile of Queen Elizabeth. Which he made in 1967. Unlike many of his predecessors, the King’s portrait lacks any crown or royal symbols. Whereas kings’ stamps frequently include an image of a crown and queens are portrayed donning a crown or diadem.
The stamps design is based on a sculpture created by artist Martin Jennings for the new King Charles coins. Which was then digitally modified. The picture is already on fifty pence coins in circulation.
However, the new everyday stamps are unlikely to be seen in regular use for some time yet.
“This will minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change of monarch [on the design].”
Stamp prices increased as a number of household expenses increased in price.
