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MAKING HIS MARK

What is King Charles’s royal cypher?

ALONG with changes to the National Anthem and coins, King Charles III's reign will also see a new cypher.

But what is a royal cypher and what will the King be using it for? Here's everything you need to know.

Buckingham Palace has revealed the cypher of King Charles III
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Buckingham Palace has revealed the cypher of King Charles IIICredit: Reuters

What is King Charles's royal cypher?

The cypher, designed by the College of Arms, then chosen by the King, shows His Majesty's first initial - C.

It is then intertwined with the letter R for Rex, which is Latin for King.

III - the Roman numeral for three - is pasted within the letter R.

The letters and numerals are all in gold with the crown above the letters signifying his new role as King.

There is also a second Scottish version of the cypher, featuring the Scottish Crown, which was approved by Lord Lyon King of Arms.

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Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Scottish version of the cypher will feature the Scottish crown
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Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Scottish version of the cypher will feature the Scottish crownCredit: PA:Press Association

The cypher will now replace the previous one of Queen Elizabeth II - ER.

E II R was the royal cypher for more than 70 years.

What will King Charles's royal cypher be used for?

King Charles's royal cypher will be used on uniforms, government buildings, state documents and some post boxes.

It will also be used by the royal household for franking mail.

However, the decision to change the use of cyphers from the Queen to the King will remain at the discretion of individual organisations and will be a gradual process.

In some instances the cyphers of previous monarchs can still be seen on public buildings and post boxes, such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI.

This is because  original cyphers remain until boxes need to be replaced.

Royal Mail has confirmed that any boxes already under construction or ready for installation will continue to have the late Queen's cypher.

Speaking on the matter of replacing the late Queen's cypher, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "Where changes can be made easily, such as digital branding, they can be made immediately.

"Physical items such as signage or stationery will be replaced gradually over time as the need arises."

What is a royal cypher?

A royal cypher is a monogram by a country's reigning sovereign.

It typically consists of the initials of the monarch's name and title.

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The royal cypher is most often seen on post boxes, government buildings across the Commonwealth, Government papers and duty stamps.

The reigning monarch’s cypher is also found on the clothes of some of the Royal staff, as well as Navy and Army uniforms.

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