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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Charlotte Hawes

How money, stamps and passports change following the death of the Queen

The UK has now entered a period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty The Queen on September 8, 2022.

According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Intricate plans had been drawn up for when Her Majesty sadly passes away, codenamed Operation London Bridge or Operation Unicorn in Scotland, that will see major differences to money, stamps and passports.

The late Queen's face is seen on a regular basis in the UK as it features on our currency and stamps but now, this could all change following her death as her son, King Charles III, has now ascended the throne.

But how will our currency, stamps and flags change following the Queen's death?

How will our currency change?

Current bank notes featuring a portrait of the Queen will continue to be legal tender (PA)

Money is now set to undergo a change following the death of Her Majesty, but the Bank of England's governor confirmed notes carrying the Queen's head will still remain legal tender.

In fact, there may not be a change to our cash for some time.

King Charles III has ascended the throne, but any imminent change to your money is not likely.

When the Queen ascended the throne in 1952, it wasn't until a year later she appeared on money and notes with the Queen face on were not introduced until 1960.

Coin designs may alter more slowly than changes for banknotes and during the changeover, experts expect the public to have a mix of monarchs on their currency.

Will there be changes to post boxes and stamps?

Stamps with the Queen’s profile on against a plain coloured background will also become invalid (PA)

Royal Mail post boxes bearing Queen Elizabeth’s royal cypher, EIIR, are unlikely to be removed.

The royal cypher bares an E and an R - E for Elizabeth and R for Regina, which means Queen.

More than 60% of the UK's 115,000 post boxes carry the royal cypher of the Queen, but in Scotland, they feature the Scottish crown.

A postbox with the Queen's cypher on it (Getty Images/EyeEm)

Although it is unlikely the post boxes will be removed in the near future, stamps are expected to change following the Queen's death.

Since 1967, all stamps issued by the Royal Mail have featured an embossed silhouette of the side profile of the Queen.

Royal Mail will now stop producing the stamps baring the Queen's silhouette- although they can still be used on letters and parcels - and will begin the process to create new ones.

The new King has featured on stamps before, including on the ones released for his 70th birthday in 2018, but Royal Mail are yet to confirm what the new designs will look like.

Will the Royal Arms change?

The Royal Arms (Volha Shukaila/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

The Royal Arms can be found on the likes of government premises and stationary, and it could now be changed following the Queen's death.

The Royal Arms are also often seen on goods alongside the words, "By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen" and these are products that have been granted a Royal Warrant.

This means that the company who makes them supplies the Royal Households on a regular basis.

Over the last century, the monarch, their consort and heir have each issued their own Royal Warrants - making them grantors - and there are currently around 900 Royal Warrants held by 800 companies.

When a grantor passes away, any Royal Warrants they issued become void and the company has two years to stop using the Royal Arms.

King Charles III's warrants that he issued as the Prince of Wales will continue now he has ascended the throne as they go with the household, not the title.

It is now expected that the new monarch will grant his son and heir to the throne, Prince William, with the ability to issue his own Royal Warrants.

How will flags change?

The Royal Standard flag which was used by the Queen (Rex Features)

Thousands of flags are set to be changed as they bare the late Queen's cypher, EIIR.

Military regiments fly “Queen’s colours”, which are usually studded with a golden embroidered EIIR.

The fire service ensign also includes her initials and countries where the Queen remains head of state, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada, have what flag experts call “E flags”, which are personal flags for the Queen that are used when she is visiting.

There is a possibility that the Royal Standard flag could see a major change.

The version used by the Queen includes one quarter representing Scotland with a lion rampant, one for Ireland with a harp, and two representing England including three lions.

The flag did not have a section for Wales but this will soon be changed as the former Prince of Wales is set to be crowned king.

Are passports still valid?

All British passports will still be valid (Getty Images)

All British passports have been issued under the name of Her Majesty and are still valid for travel.

However, new passports, will now be printed with the wording on the inside of the front cover to His Majesty.

Police forces in England and Wales will also change the royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth II in the centre of their helmet plates, while barristers and solicitors who have been appointed by the monarch to be Queen's Counsel will now be known as King's Counsel with immediate effect.

Will the national anthem change?

The national anthem will change to "God Save The King" following the Queen's death (Getty Images)

The national anthem is set to change from "God Save The Queen" to "God Save The King".

After Charles is officially proclaimed King in a formal ceremony at Westminster Abbey, a public announcement will be made from the balcony at St James's Palace, including the call of "God Save the King".

The new national anthem will then be played with those words sung for the first time since 1952.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.

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