Charles has new cypher and coat of arms – but you will barely see them

The new coat of arms will eventually appear on ministerial letters but existing stocks of paper will be used up first.

Mr Noad said: “It has been a great privilege and an exciting challenge to provide the new artwork for the Royal Arms.

“Having designed the Royal Cypher for HM King Charles III, as well as many different versions of the Royal Arms in colour and black and white, I feel as if I have been part of a major rebranding process for the new reign and have been working on these designs for the best part of two years.”

The decision to avoid unnecessary cost and waste in the adoption of these new symbols means the King’s reign is likely to leave a smaller footprint in public life than that of his mother, Elizabeth II.

While nine police forces told The Telegraph they had introduced new uniforms featuring the King’s cypher, at least eight, including the Metropolitan Police, have not.

Among those yet to make the change is Northamptonshire Police which said it was following guidance issued by the Cabinet Office, meaning the uniform would be updated at the “end of its natural life cycle”.

Some military personnel are still wearing Elizabeth II’s cypher on their uniforms, despite the new monarch succeeding her as their commander in chief, with the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence keen to use existing supplies before new items are issued.

One new postbox

The first – and only – postbox featuring the new cypher was unveiled in Great Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, in July, but remains a mere dot in a veritable sea of those featuring the familiar ERII symbol.

The grand, red velvet front of house curtains at the Royal Opera House are also still emblazoned with the late Queen’s cypher, although funding has been secured for their replacement.

The College of Arms, which designed the new cypher, said the symbol, and the new rendering of the crown, would be introduced gradually and only when any relevant equipment or uniforms needed to be replaced.

This chimed with the view from Buckingham Palace, which made clear it was in no hurry to replace the late Queen’s cypher.

“We have said that the cypher should only be replaced where it was essential and where it was desirable but that the decision should rest very much with the individual organisations,” a source insisted.