The country is in mourning, but what about the practical implications of our beloved monarch’s death? Rachel Pearce investigates.
This year we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: seventy years of amazing service to her country. Queen Elizabeth II took the throne at the tender age of 25 and worked tirelessly as a mother and a monarch, openly professing Christ at every opportunity. Now that she has died, we will long mourn the loss of an incredible leader and a wonderful woman. Life will never be quite the same again.
But what about all the products that bear the Queen’s face or silhouette? Will we have to ditch our stamps and throw away our money?
Well, new coins and notes bearing the image of our new monarch, King Charles, will be printed immediately. But don’t panic! In the same way that old notes and coins are gradually withdrawn when new ones are introduced, you’ll still be able to use the cash you have lying around for several years. Stamps will also be updated with the king’s profile, but again, we’ll be able to use existing stamps for some time. It may even be worth holding on to a few stamps, notes or coins, as they might be worth more in the distant future.
What else will change?
There will be plenty of other changes to navigate in the wake of the Queen’s death, including revised words for the national anthem. The text will revert to “God save our king”, as it was during the reign of King George VI. The wording in our passports will be changed to allow travellers to pass freely to their destinations in “the Name of His Majesty” rather than “Her Majesty”. The cypher on postboxes will be switched, and the insignia on police helmets and military uniforms will also need updating.
There is also speculation that the change in monarch could prompt the end of the Commonwealth, with some countries already showing an interest in republican life. Time will tell on this front, but the national mourning currently in progress suggests Britain’s love affair with the monarchy is not over yet. I reckon we’ll be sticking with king and country rather than ousting the royals any time soon.
Will Charles be a good king?
This is an impossible question to answer, as only time will tell. What we do know is that Charles is well-educated, hard-working and has had a long time to prepare for this moment. While some might have preferred to see William on the throne, others believe our new king will fulfil his duties admirably. Charles hasn’t been as vocal about his personal faith as his mother, but he has been a prominent supporter of the persecuted Church around the globe. Let’s hope he continues to support Christians near and far as he tries to fill the biggest, most beautiful, royal shoes of all time.
And let’s take comfort in knowing that, regardless of who ends up wearing the British crown, God is seated on the throne, and he watches over his people with love and mercy. All hail the King!
