Exclusive: Brits in queue for first bank notes bearing King Charles’s image

Collectors in the United Kingdom on Wednesday queue in front of the Bank of England headquarters to get the new notes depicting King Charles III as gradual phasing out of bills with Queen Elizabeth II’s face begins.

The UK’s top bank has begun the issuance of new 5, 10, and 50 pound bills showing King Charles’ image with the colour similar to the bills in circulation with Queen Elizabeth II on them as Brits eagerly await queue to swap their own notes with Queen Elizabeth’s face for the new ones.

Both bills will remain in circulation until the old notes gradually phase out. The plan to change the currency started immediately after the death of Queen Elizabeth to mark the beginning of a new era with King Charles.

“It’s just the novelty,” says Lee O’Brien, an East London resident who was at the bank to view the bank building and exchange his old 180 pound notes for the new ones, said he had no plans to spend them.

A London collector, Jonny Blake, who already has more than £80 worth of special 50 pence coins bearing the likeness of King Charles which was issued in 2023, said he was at the bank to exchange £300. “I had nothing else to do,” he told the New York Times.