King Charles III’s new royal cypher revealed

The monogram will appear on government buildings, state documents as well as on some post boxes in the coming months and years.

The cypher features the King’s initial C intertwined with the letter R for Rex – Latin for King – with III within the R denoting Charles III, with the crown above the letters.

King Charles III royal cypher

The monogram is Charles’ personal property and was selected by the monarch from a series of designs prepared by the College of Arms. A Scottish version features the Scottish Crown and was approved by Lord Lyon King of Arms.

This will be used by government departments and by the Royal Household for franking mail and the decision to replace cyphers will be at the discretion of individual organisations.

Royal cypher (PA/Buckingham Palace) (Image: PA/Buckingham Palace)

The process will be a gradual one and in some instances, the cyphers of previous monarchs can still be seen on public buildings and street furniture especially post boxes.

The College of Arms, which designed the cyphers, was founded in 1484 and is responsible for creating and maintaining official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said of replacing the late Queen’s cypher with the Charles’ monogram: “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.”