The King’s new cypher, which will soon become an everyday sight across Britain, has been revealed.
Featuring the intertwined letters CR, it is to appear on coins, stamps, postboxes and passports.
It will also feature on government buildings, medals, official papers, military uniforms and royal staff clothes.
Buckingham Palace unveiled the new design today as the King was recently spotted wearing it on his tie.
It will replace the ER cypher used during the late Queen’s 70-year reign.
That appears on more than 60% of the 115,000 red and gold post boxes.
There are no plans to replace those pillar boxes, but any new ones will bear the King’s new cypher.
The King personally chose the design from a series prepared by the College of Arms.
The college was founded in 1484 and is responsible for creating and maintaining official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees. It is made up of members of the Royal Household who act under Crown authority.
The cypher’s R stands for “rex”, the Latin word for king, while the late Queen’s R stood for “regina”, which means queen.
The tradition of signing with the initial R dates back to Henry I in the 12th century. A different version of the cypher featuring the Scottish crown, which will be used north of the border, has also been revealed.
Buckingham Palace’s Court Post Office will frank the first items of mail with the King’s new cypher today.
The post room deals with 200,000 items of mail each year, including invitations to events and responses to letters and cards.
The new cypher is the first of many changes the public will see following the death of the Queen.
Stamps bearing the King’s silhouette, which will face in the opposite direction to his mother, will soon be released.
New passports will now be printed with the wording on the inside of the front cover changed to His Majesty.
Bank notes and coins featuring the King’s face will also begin going into circulation around the country in the coming months and years.
