[UPDATED] EIIR to CIIIR: royals reveal Charles’s new cypher

LONDON – Buckingham Palace on Monday revealed King Charles III's new royal cypher – the monogram of his initials that will feature on government buildings, state documents and new post boxes.

His late mother Queen Elizabeth II's cypher was EIIR, standing for Elizabeth II Regina (queen in Latin).

Charles’s will be CIIIR for Charles III Rex (king in Latin), with the C intertwined with the R, the III within the R, and the crown above both letters.

A Scottish version of the cypher features the Scottish Crown.

The cypher was designed by The College of Arms, which was founded in 1484 and whose job it is to create and maintain official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees.

The Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace will frank the first items of mail with “CIIIR” on Tuesday, after the end of royal mourning for the queen, who died on September 8, aged 96.

The palace mailroom handles some 200,000 items every year, from invitations to events, responses to public letters and cards, and state business.

The new cypher will be used throughout the Royal Household and by government departments.

The accession of Charles, 73, to the throne has already seen an immediate change in the national anthem, from ‘God Save the Queen’ to ‘God Save the King’.

Senior lawyers have become “king's counsel” (KC) instead of “queen's counsel” (QC) for the first time since the death of the late queen's father, king George VI, in 1952.

Other changes – from the king's head on banknotes and coins to the wording inside passports – will gradually be brought in both in Britain and the 14 other countries where he is also head of state.

New bank notes with King Charles III's face on them will be unveiled by the end of 2022, but won't be in public circulation until mid-2024.

Bank notes that feature the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be legal tender for the foreseeable future and only be removed when they are worn or damaged.

This means in two years when new banknotes with the King's face are introduced, they will co-circulate with the notes featuring his mother the Queen.

His Majesty’s portrait will appear on existing designs of all four polymer notes – £5, £10, £20 and £50 – alongside existing stocks featuring Queen Elizabeth II. 

The Royal Mint has confirmed that it is preparing coins featuring the portrait of the King but it has not revealed when they will begin circulating. All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will also remain legal tender and in active circulation.

Historically it has been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal environmental impact and cost.

Anne Jessopp, chief executive officer of the Royal Mint, said: ‘We are honoured to have struck each UK coin of Her Late Majesty’s reign, documenting her journey from young Queen to the respected head of state." – AFP, September 27, 2022