The death of Queen Elizabeth II at 96 has thrown a state apparatus into motion that sat idle for 70 years — since Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, died in 1952. Her son, the 73-year-old Charles, is now king.
Here’s what we’re following:
British public opinion: Most believe the monarchy will still exist in a decade but have doubts about its long-term endurance.
The monarchy’s uncertain future: Britain can expect to struggle without Queen Elizabeth at the helm, according to one expert.
Balmoral Castle: What to know about the grand estate and holiday getaway where the queen spent her final days.
Elizabeth II was declared queen in 1952, and in 1960, she became the first monarch to have a picture on Britain’s paper notes.
Her son Prince Charles III will now take over as king. So will the currency change?
The Bank of England said notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II will still be considered legal money that can be exchanged. It said it will make an additional announcement about the country’s existing notes “once the period of mourning has been observed.”
“As the first monarch to feature on Bank of England banknotes, the Queen’s iconic portraits are synonymous with some of the most important work we do,” it said in a statement.
Photos of the queen on paper money are also an anti-counterfeit method, as it is easier to detect changes among facial features than inanimate objects, according to the Bank of England.
As for the coins, since the reign of King Charles II, it has been a tradition to have new monarchs’ photos face opposite directions of their predecessors. So King Charles III would be facing the left, as opposed to his mother Elizabeth’s coins, whose pictures face the right.
Analysis by NPR
