• Royal Mail published first stamps featuring King Charles III.
• Stamps are designed for everyday usage and consists of the monarch’s head.
• The new design depicts Charles facing left, as all British monarchs.

Following King Charles III’s accession to the throne in September, Britain’s Royal Mail published the first postage stamps featuring his portrait on Wednesday.

The new “definitive stamp,” designed for everyday usage and consisting merely of the monarch’s head, the stamp’s value, and a barcode, will be available for purchase beginning April 4.

The depiction, which Charles authorised, is based on the official effigy that will appear on future UK coins after he succeeds his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth died on September 8, after reigning for a record-breaking 70 years.

Retailers will be able to sell their current stamps portraying the late Queen Elizabeth II until current Royal Mail stockpiles run out.

In the 1960s, British artist Arnold Machin created an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II for decimal currency, and later drew the definitive stamps displaying her image, which became an iconic emblem of the United Kingdom around the world.

The new design depicts Charles facing left, as all British monarchs have done on stamps since Queen Victoria issued the “Penny Black” as the world’s first postage stamp in 1840.

The depiction of Charles is an adaptation of a portrait sculpted by British sculptor Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint for new UK coins that are already in circulation.

According to Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson, British stamps are unique in that the country of origin is not printed on them, “as the image of the monarch is sufficient.”

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