Can I still use old stamps? When King Charles designs are released and how long you can use the Queen’s stamps

Royal Mail has confirmed that all British stamps will eventually feature a silhouette of King Charles III.

The first coins featuring the new monarch have already been revealed, with the Royal Mint releasing images of a 50p that will begin circulating within weeks.

King Charles will face left on all coins and stamps – the opposite direction to the Queen. Tradition states that each monarch faces in a different direction to their predecessor.

Here’s when we can expect stamps bearing the new King, and what will happen to existing stamps.

When will King Charles stamps enter circulation?

No standard stamps featuring the new King have been revealed yet, and it is unknown when they will enter circulation.

However, a series of special stamps depicting his silhouette have been confirmed.

Four stamps that feature portraits of the Queen will also be released in her memory, the Royal Mail has announced.

The new stamps – the first set to be approved by the King – will go on general sale from 10 November. They will feature images of the Queen through the years.

The second-class stamp features a photograph taken by Dorothy Wilding in 1952 to mark the Queen’s accession and coronation. The first-class stamp will bear a photo taken by Cecil Beaton in 1968.

Simon Thompson, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “For the past 70 years, every British stamp has been personally approved by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

“Today we are unveiling these stamps, the first to be approved by His Majesty the King, in tribute to a woman whose commitment to public service and duty was unparalleled in the history of this country.”

What will happen to the Queen’s stamps?

When the King’s standard stamps enter circulation they are set to be used in conjunction with the Queen’s stamps, which will slowly be phased out.

It will likely take longer for coins to be fully replaced, with many not set to enter circulation until mid-2024.

There are around 27 billion coins currently circulating in the UK featuring the Queen. It is commonplace, when a new monarch ascends the throne, for money to co-circulate, as replacing it takes time.

Notes and coins bearing the Queen’s portrait will only be removed from circulation when they become worn or damaged.

Anne Jessopp, chief executive officer of the Royal Mint, said: “We are honoured to have struck each UK coin of her Late Majesty’s reign, documenting her journey from young Queen to respected head of state.

“As official coinmakers to the UK, we have told the story of each monarch since Alfred the Great and are now preparing for the biggest change in British coinage for several decades.

“The first coins bearing the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will enter circulation in line with demand from banks and post offices.

“This means the coinage of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II will co-circulate in the UK for many years to come.”