News
Royal symbols that will need to change now Charles is King
WITH the passing of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, many goods and titles will have to change so they no longer bear the Queen’s symbols, but will display her son and heir, King Charles III.
Here are some of the changes that will need to go ahead now that Charles has been appointed King.
Money
There are 4.5bn sterling bank notes in circulation around the UK with the Queen’s face on them. They are estimated to be worth a combined £80bn.
New coins and notes will need to be designed and minted or printed.
They are not expected to appear in circulation for some time. Replacement of the new coins and notes are likely to take two years.
Coins displaying Elizabeth II did not appear until a year after her accession to the throne and notes with her majesty’s face took eight years to finally reach circulation.
Coins that will feature the new King will show him facing to the left, whereas Queen Elizabeth faced to the right.
This tradition began in the 17th century to alternate the way successive monarchs are facing.
Elizabeth II’s coins are expected to stay in use until they are gradually replaced.
The Queen’s head also features on some $20 banknotes in Canada, on coins in New Zealand, and on all coins and notes issued by the Eastern Caribbean central bank, as well as other parts of the Commonwealth.
Stamps
The new King will soon begin to feature on stamps in Britain and others in the Commonwealth.
It is likely that Charles III has already sat for such sculptures and portraits. He will need to approve the design before the new stamps are available for use.
Postboxes
New postboxes could feature the new King’s cypher. Currently, postboxes across the country display Elizabeth II’s ERII cypher.
70 years later, some postboxes with King George VI’s GR cypher remain in use today.
Queen’s Council
In the UK, Queen’s Counsel (QC) refers to a set of barristers and solicitors who the monarch appoints to be a part of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law.
The title switches to King’s Counsel (KC) now a king reigns.
In criminal court cases, the R to denote the Crown now stands for Rex rather than Regina (queen).
Stationery and business cards may need to be reprinted to reflect the change in the post-nominal letters.
The English national anthem
The words of the English national anthem will change from “God save our gracious Queen” to “God save our gracious King” with substitutions of “him” and “he”.
This is a matter of tradition and is not law.
Passports
The King no longer needs his own passport. As for the rest of the UK, passports will be issued in his name.
The wording in new passports will be changed at some point in the near future.
Her Majesty’s Passport Office will become His Majesty’s Passport Office, as is the case with HM Armed Forces and HM Prison Service.
Cyphers
The new monarch will need a new Royal Cypher – the monogram impressed upon royal and state documents.
The Queen’s ERII features on traditional police helmets and postboxes.
While English queens use the St Edward’s crown, or a variant of it, kings traditionally use the more rounded Tudor crown.
Flags
Thousands of flags emblazoned with EIIR will need to be replaced, from those flying outside police stations across the UK to the standard used on a naval ship when a general is on board.
Military regiments fly “Queen’s colours,” many of which are embroidered with a gold EIIR; the fire service ensign includes her initials; and countries where the Queen remains head of state, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, have personal flags for the Queen that are flown when she visits.
While the Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, the Queen’s own flag was unique to her and could only be flown by her.
It is possible that the royal standard (the quartered flag that flies wherever the monarch is in residence) could also change. The version used by the Queen includes one quarter representing Scotland (a lion rampant), one for Ireland (a harp), and two representing England (three lions passant), however, there is no symbol for Wales.
As Charles III will need a new personal flag as King, he may incorporate a Welsh element.
News
Visitor levy and accommodation register proposals to boost tourism
THE Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation to support the tourism industry and local communities across Wales. Two proposed Bills aim to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy and create a national register for visitor accommodation.
The announcement, made by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, outlines a Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill set to be introduced to the Senedd on 25 November, pending approval.
Under the new proposal, local councils would have the authority to introduce a small levy for overnight stays in visitor accommodations, generating additional funds to support sustainable tourism initiatives. Each local authority would decide on the levy based on local needs, potentially easing the burden on resources in popular tourist areas.
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said that the levy would be “a small charge,” intended to help councils manage the impacts of tourism and invest in community infrastructure. “This will support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he added, emphasising that the approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to collaborative tax development.
Consultations led by the Welsh Revenue Authority highlighted the importance of a registration system to support the proposed levy. Feedback from stakeholders led to the decision to include a national register of all visitor accommodation providers in Wales as part of the Bill, aimed at ensuring quality standards across the sector.
In addition to the visitor levy, the Welsh Government previously consulted on a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation to create a fair playing field for providers and ensure visitors receive high-standard services. The proposed registration scheme within the Bill marks a first step toward this broader licensing framework.
The second phase of the initiative will involve a separate Bill aimed at establishing a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodations. This would allow providers to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, enhancing transparency and standards. Welsh Government representatives confirmed they would continue discussions with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers, and local authorities as the proposals progress.
If approved, the Bills will mark a significant shift in how Wales manages its tourism sector, balancing visitor demand with community needs and sustainable practices.
Business
Small business briefing hosted by Local MS
A BRIEFING event which considered how to best support small businesses in Wales has been hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies hosted the event in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, Economic Intelligence Wales and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. The theme of the event was ‘productivity’, given that Wales has had a persistent productivity gap with the UK as a whole and with other international competitor regions.
Mr Davies said, “It’s always a pleasure to help facilitate discussions on how we can support small businesses across Wales. 99.3% of businesses in Wales are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) and it’s important for us to explore the opportunities there are to boost SME growth.”
“Business-friendly policies are needed to address Wales’s persistent productivity gap, and we heard from the speakers today that more support is needed in areas like skills development, infrastructure enhancements and planning.”
“As I’ve said before, the Welsh Government has some significant economic levers, and it must now use those levers to create conditions for growth in Wales. We know that when small businesses thrive, they create jobs, spread prosperity and keep our communities vibrant and it’s crucial that governments at all levels do more to support our small businesses and enable them to grow.”
Business
Bristol Trader to temporarily serve menu at the Castle Hotel
The team of a popular riverside pub in Pembrokeshire, devastated by a recent fire, will relocate to a new town centre location while repair work is carried out on the original site.
On Wednesday, 6 November, a fire broke out at The Bristol Trader, situated on Haverfordwest’s riverside, causing significant damage to the building. The fire affected two floors of the pub as well as the roof space, forcing its closure. Smoke from the blaze was visible across the town as firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.
Following the incident, the pub’s owners expressed their sadness, describing the team as “absolutely heartbroken” but determined to reopen and come back stronger. They extended their gratitude to the regulars, locals, friends, and family who have offered their support during this difficult time.
In the meantime, The Bristol Trader team will continue operating from an alternative venue. Beginning Monday, 18 November, the pub will relocate to the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, located on Haverfordwest Square, where they’ll serve the same menu.
“While repairs are being made to The Bristol Trader, Team Trader are being temporarily relocated to The Castle Hotel Restaurant from Monday the 18th of November,” announced the team in a social media post. “All our menus are attached to our Facebook page, and the phone lines are being redirected.”
Anyone with a booking at The Bristol Trader who hasn’t been in touch since the fire on 6 November is encouraged to contact the team at 01437 762122.
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