The Bank of England has revealed, for the first time, what the new English banknotes will look like, adorned with the portrait of King Charles III.
The new bills are expected to enter circulation in 2024.
Design of the new English banknotes, featuring King Charles III.
Bank of England
The Bank of England announced Tuesday that the current banknotes featuring the image of Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, will remain legal tender, and “new notes will only be printed to replace worn banknotes and to meet any overall increase in demand.”
This means that bills “featuring HM Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III will therefore co-circulate.”
The decision was made in conjunction with the Royal Family, who wish to minimize any negative environmental or financial impact associated with the change.
Apart from the change in monarch, the Bank of England said that the design of the new bills will remain the same — with Winston Churchill on the £5 bill, Jane Austen on the £10 bill, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50.
King Charles’ portrait will appear on the front of the bill and in the see-through security window.
Queen Elizabeth was the first monarch to appear on Bank of England bills in 1960, though British royals have adorned the nation’s coins for centuries. Banknotes in Scotland and Northern Ireland do not feature portraits of the monarch.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said he was “proud” of the momentous occasion.
“I am very proud that the Bank is releasing the design of our new banknotes which will carry a portrait of King Charles III. This is a significant moment, as The King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes,” he said in a press release.
Design of the new English banknotes, featuring King Charles III.
Bank of England
There are about 4.5 billion Bank of England notes currently circulating with the queen’s image. The BBC estimates that this represents about £80 billion or $132 billion in value.
Coins with the King’s profile have already entered circulation in England with the arrival of the new 50 pence coin on Dec. 8. Much like the banknotes, coins featuring the queen will still be accepted as legal tender.
It remains to be seen if and when the Government of Canada will roll out new bills and coins with Charles’ image.
In an email to Global News, the Royal Canadian Mint reiterated that the government has “not yet announced how it plans to change the obverse (heads side) of our coins.”
“In the meantime, we have a team in place, ready to implement this change in a timely manner, once a decision is announced,” said Alex Reeves, senior manager of public affairs for the Mint.
The Bank of Canada told Global News that the “current polymer $20 bank note is intended to circulate for years to come,” with the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
“There is no legislative requirement to change the design within a prescribed period when the monarch changes,” said Amélie Ferron-Craig, a media relations consultant for the Bank of Canada.
Charles became King in September following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned over the Commonwealth for 70 years.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
