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Now the Queen has died, British money is going to look very different. Here's how it will change.

Sep 11, 2022, 15:44 IST
Insider
Queen Elizabeth II.Steve Reigate - WPA Pool/Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth's portrait has appeared on British money since 1960.
  • Britain is now due to replace the Queen's portrait with King Charles' on its banknotes and coins.
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The Queen's death will cause many changes in Britain, such as to the royal line of succession and the lyrics to the national anthem. But one of the major changes will be to British money, which has the Queen's portrait on it.

There have been five different portraits of the Queen on British banknotes and coins since she took the throne in 1952, according to The Coin Expert.

Now that her son Charles is king, British money will be replaced with his portrait.

King Charles III's portrait will be featured on British money, but it will likely take many years

The process of replacing the Queen's portrait with the new monarch's will take a number of years due to the number of banknotes currently in circulation, according to The Coin Expert.

There are currently more than 4.7 billion Bank of England notes in circulation, the bank said on its website, and more than 29 billion coins in circulation, according to the Royal Mint.

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A Bank of England spokesperson told Insider that all banknotes featuring the Queen's portrait remain legal tender, and further details would be shared once the period of mourning is over.

British banknotes and coins with the Queen's portrait.Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

While the Queen succeeded her father King George VI in 1952, she didn't appear on a Bank of England note until 1960. She initially featured on a £1 note with a portrait designed by Robert Austin. The portrait was criticized for being a severe and unrealistic likeness, according to the Bank of England.

A new portrait of the Queen designed by Reynolds Stone was featured on a £5 note in 1963 and £10 notes in 1964, the Bank of England added. The most recent portrait of the Queen for banknotes was designed in 1990 by Roger Withington.

The UK won't be the only country to change its money after the Queen's death

The Queen's portrait is featured on the coinage of at least 33 different countries — more countries than any other living monarch — according to Guinness World Records.

A Canadian banknote from 1988.DeAgostini/Getty Images

The following countries have issued coins with the Queen's image: Canada, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, East Caribbean States, Jamaica, Turks Caicos, Falkland Islands, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, South Africa, Rhodesia, East Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Seychelles, Hong Kong, Malaya British Borneo, Australia, New Zealand, Tokelau, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, and the UK.

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Many of these are Commonwealth countries, of which the Queen was head of state. The Commonwealth's new head of state could likely replace the Queen's portrait. However, just as the countries in the Commonwealth have their own currencies and their own banknote designs, they will have their own process for determining a new image.

Representatives for Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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