Royal Rebrand Complete: King Charles’ New Great Seal Unveiled
Oh, marvelous—just when we thought we’d run out of royal anniversary souvenirs, King Charles III has rolled out his brand-new Great Seal of the Realm to wrap up the final act of his enthralling transition. If you’re still clutching your commemorative coins from late 2022, breathe easy: this is the last stage in swapping out Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic emblem for something Charles-approved.
According to People Magazine and the official Royal Household website, the new seal was quietly revealed this month, marking the momentous handover from mum’s reign to Charles’s era. Sculpted by acclaimed artist Martin Jennings, the obverse depicts Charles perched on a carved throne, draped in coronation robes and crowned like he’s auditioning for a medieval Netflix series. Flip it over, and you get the reverse side featuring the full Royal Arms, because nothing says “legitimacy” like a bunch of heraldic beasts flanking a shield.
The whole seal swapout has been a meticulously choreographed three-part saga. Stage one saw the seal of the Channel Islands retired just days after Charles ascended the throne on September 9, 2022, per Government House dispatches. Stage two, rolled out last December, replaced the seals of Scotland and Northern Ireland—each kept under lock and key by First Ministers—so every corner of these Isles felt included in the “new boss” memo. And now, stage three: the Great Seal of the Realm, overseen by the Lord Chancellor at the Ministry of Justice, is officially on duty, stamping everything from Royal Assent on new laws to letters patent creating peers and appointing judges.
Of course, those expecting fireworks or a radical rebrand will be disappointed. The design is predictable royal minimalism—no surprise dragon motifs, no cheeky nod to environmental causes, just solid, centuries-old symbolism given a fresh sculptor’s polish. Still, protocol demands the physical seal be impressed on vellum whenever Charles seals the fate of a bill or commissions a high court justice, so get ready for plenty of stamped bureaucracy disguised as regal pageantry.
So there you have it—a final flourish in the most under-hyped makeover of a monarchy in living memory. Hold onto your tiaras, though; if history is any guide, we’ll soon get an updated postage stamp or a commemorative teacup featuring this very seal. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine; The Royal Household (royal.uk)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
