But those hoping to get their hands on it soon may well be disappointed.
Under instructions from Buckingham Palace,the new stamp will not be widely circulated until current stocks,featuring Queen Elizabeth II,have been exhausted.
A view of a sheet of the 1st class definitive stamps featuring Britain’s King Charles III going on display at the Postal Museum in central London,before they enter circulation later this year.PA/AP
Royal Mail said the move was to minimise the “environmental and financial impact” of the change of monarch.
Often referred to as the everyday stamp,the “definitive” release features the monarch’s head and value of the stamp on a plain coloured background. Royal Mail could not confirm how many stamps bearing the late Queen’s image had yet to be sold but confirmed their use was likely to extend past the Coronation on Saturday,May 6.
Private buyers,however,will be able to purchase the new stamps online from April and can register their interest from Wednesday.
Stamps featuring the late Queen have collector value.Abacus Auctions
Historically it has been commonplace for stamps and coins featuring the silhouettes of different monarchs to co-circulate.
The image of the King is an adapted version of the portrait created by British sculptor,Martin Jennings,for The Royal Mint. The new 50p coins,featuring the head of King Charles II facing to the left on the obverse side of the coin,entered circulation on December 8.
Charles’ decision to appear without a crown on the new stamps is a matter of “personal preference”.
Stamps featuring the Queen’s image always portrayed her wearing a crown,but in early representations on coins she had also been pictured wearing a laurel wreath.
However,while previous kings were traditionally never featured wearing a crown on coins,it is usually featured somewhere on the stamp design,often above their head.
It is up to the monarch to decide on the image they want to use.
David Gold,director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail said there was much speculation about whether or not King Charles III would choose to wear a crown in the new definitive stamps,pointing out that kings have not always worn crowns and that it is a matter of personal preference.
“Quite rightly the King has decided that’s the image he wants and we are very happy to show that image as he chose,” he said.
The picture,which has been digitally re-lit making it suitable for use on definitive stamps,appears alongside a printed barcode separated by a simulated perforation line. Royal Mail transitioned to stamps with barcodes last year,to connect “physical stamps to the digital world” as part of a modernisation drive.
The colours for all four value stamps remain the same - plum purple for first class,holly green for second,marine turquoise for first class large letters and dark pine green for second class large.
King Charles III becomes the seventh monarch to appear on a definitive stamp. The first was Queen Victoria who appeared on the Penny Black in 1840,followed by Edward VII,George V,Edward VIII,George VI,Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles III.
It has been traditional for artists to work on both coins and stamps,or for the coinage designs to be adapted for use on definitives. Arnold Machin’s 1960s representation of the Queen became an iconic symbol of the United Kingdom around the world.
Simon Thompson,chief executive officer of the Royal Mail,said:“Ever since the Penny Black was issued in the reign of Queen Victoria,British stamps have carried the image of the reigning monarch.
“Uniquely,British stamps do not have the country of origin printed on them as the image of the monarch is sufficient.
“So today is a hugely important milestone for Royal Mail and the country as we reveal the image of the new King Charles definitive.”
The new 1st class stamp will form part of an exhibition of Britain’s definitive releases at London’s Postal Museum,offering a “unique chance” to see a sheet of King Charles’s stamps before they are in public circulation.
With stamps bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II remaining valid for use,the next few years may see two monarchs heads on our letters,something which has not been seen for many years.
The Telegraph,London