Queen Elizabeth II has sadly passed away after being the nation’s monarch for more than 70 years, and many things are now going to change.
Yesterday, 8 September 2022, the UK and the world received devastating news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Her death has jolted the nation, after 70 years on the throne the majority of us do not remember a time without her as our monarch.
Her face is inscribed on a number of items around the country, and as we transition into having a new King, Charles III, many things will have to change.
Here’s a few of the things we can expect to change going forward.
The National Anthem
A change that will be implemented immediately is the change in the national anthem. It was ‘God Save the Queen’ but it will now revert to ‘God Save the King’, this was last sang under the Queen’s father and predecessor, King George VI.
Stamps
Stamps across the UK will be replaced with new stamps that have the face of King Charles III on them. The old stamps with Queen Elizabeth II on them will slowly be phased out of use.
Money
All notes and coins in the UK carry the image of the Queen on them. From now on, all new money printed or coins minted will contain the image of the new monarch.
The old money will be slowly phased out to a point where eventually (and very far in the future), the old money will cease to be legal tender.
Other nations where the Queen is their head of state, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand will also have to phase out their money.
Passports
All passports issued in the UK for the past 70 years have contained this message “Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”
This will now be updated with the King’s pronouns however you will not have to update your passport until it expires.
Postboxes
Every postbox in the UK built during the Queen’s reign carries her royal cypher. This is EIIR, or Elizabeth II Regina, which is Latin for Queen.
All postboxes built under King Charles III reign will now carry a new cypher which is yet to be announced.
Uniforms
The Queen’s military cypher is imprinted on lots of uniforms across the UK, including those worn by the armed forces and police.
This will be replaced by the King’s military cypher which is yet to be announced.
Read more: King Charles III pays tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II
Feature image – Royal Family
