United News of Bangladesh

The British High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday celebrated the official birthday of King Charles III. “This year’s celebration reflects the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Bangladesh on its path towards a democratic, inclusive and prosperous future," said British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke. The event paid tribute to The King, the UK’s Head of State and the Head of the Commonwealth, who has been a global champion of climate action, sustainable development, the arts, healthcare and education for decades.  British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke welcomed guests to the celebration, which featured traditional British and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and a ceremonial toast to His Majesty and continued growth of the UK-Bangladesh relationship. Prof Yunus honoured with prestigious Harmony Award by King Charles III Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, attended the event as the chief guest.  The event also brought together distinguished guests from the interim government of Bangladesh, the Diplomatic Corps, political parties and representatives from the fields of trade, business, academia, social development, arts, culture, media and sports.  The High Commissioner said, “It is my privilege to celebrate His Majesty’s official birthday with our friends, partners and sponsors in Bangladesh. We chose the theme of climate resilience and sustainable development for the event."  She said these are issues which the King has consistently championed, and which are a vital part of the UK-Bangladesh partnership.  This year’s King’s Birthday Party celebrations were made possible by the gracious support of HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, Airbus, OxfordAQA, Menzies Aviation and Le Méridien.  The official birthday of The King is celebrated by British High Commissions and Embassies around the world. Prof Yunus meets King Charles before receiving Harmony Award This year, The King turns 77 on 14 November.   The King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace. Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth.     

The Founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh, Valerie Taylor along with two long-time volunteers, Janet Irene Varney and Roger Michael Varney, have received recognition in the recent The King’s Birthday Honours list for their outstanding contribution to supporting disadvantaged and disabled people in Bangladesh and the UK. Valerie Taylor OBE has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), while Janet Irene Varney and Roger Michael Varney have each been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), said the British High Commission in Dhaka on Monday. UN team praises interim govt for steps against enforced disappearances A UK-trained physiotherapist, Taylor arrived in Bangladesh in 1969 working for the Voluntary Service Overseas, where she began her work at a small mission hospital in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). After three years of working in CHT, she joined Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka. In 1979, Taylor and her colleagues established CRP with four patients in an abandoned warehouse of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. Today, CRP has grown into a 100-bed hospital in Savar with 12 centres in different parts of the country and is widely regarded as Bangladesh’s leading institution for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said, “I am delighted that Taylor, Varney and Varney have been honoured with these prestigious awards. Their tireless dedication and compassion have transformed countless lives and exemplify the spirit and solidarity between the UK and Bangladesh.” Valerie Taylor OBE said receiving such an award is a perfect opportunity for me to thank and congratulate the staff of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) for their commitment to the work of complete rehabilitation for our patients over the last 46 years.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus left here for London on Monday evening, embarking on a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom from June 10 to 13. The two countries are working to renew their bilateral ties, with an increased focus on economic cooperation, trade and investment. A flight of Emirates Airlines carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for London at about 7.30 pm, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. “This is a very important visit,” said acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, noting that Professor Yunus will meet His Majesty King Charles III and hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside other high-level engagements. “The relationship between Bangladesh and the UK is very deep and diverse,” he added, emphasising that the visit will play a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations. During the visit, King Charles III will formally confer the prestigious ‘Harmony Award 2025’ on Professor Yunus, recognising his lifelong efforts to promote peace, sustainability and harmony between people and the environment. Prof Yunus leaves for home wrapping up Japan tour The award ceremony will take place at St James’s Palace in London on June 12. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the recipient in 2024. Prof Yunus is also expected to meet UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with other senior ministers, political leaders, and influential figures from the UK’s policy and business communities. The Acting Foreign Secretary said the visit carries particular importance, as the UK, being a leading democratic nation, values the promotion of democratic principles and good governance in developing countries. He said the visit will provide an opportunity to showcase Bangladesh’s ongoing reform initiatives, its democratic trajectory and the interim government's commitment to good governance. “And above all,” he noted, “as a Nobel laureate and a globally respected figure, the Chief Adviser has a unique and positive image around the world. A visit to the UK by a personality like him will further enhance and consolidate Bangladesh’s position in the global arena.” Discussions during the visit will also cover global and regional issues, with particular focus on climate change, sustainable development, the Rohingya crisis, and migration. An important component of the agenda will be leveraging British expertise and resources to support Bangladesh’s national development goals. Prof Yunus is also scheduled to hold courtesy meetings with the Secretaries-General of the Commonwealth and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), reinforcing Bangladesh’s wider international engagements. As part of his public diplomacy initiatives, the Chief Adviser will deliver a keynote address at Chatham House – the Royal Institute of International Affairs – on June 11. He will share insights into Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress, democratic transition, and future vision. Prof Yunus leaves Qatar for Vatican to pay last tribute to Pope Francis The recovery of laundered money and overseas assets is also expected to be high on the agenda. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur recently told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy that the Chief Adviser will raise the issue during the London visit, as part of ongoing efforts to recover stolen funds and assets. According to the government, an estimated US$16 billion was illicitly transferred abroad annually under the previous administration. The Chief Adviser has already sought cooperation from the British government through its High Commissioner in Dhaka to trace and recover funds allegedly laundered to the UK by individuals associated with the former Sheikh Hasina-led regime.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, has said the UK and Bangladesh enjoy a strong partnership based on their long-shared history, deep people-to-people ties and as members of the Commonwealth. “I am delighted to host this reception to celebrate the Official Birthday of His Majesty King Charles III and the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen," she said while speaking at a reception on Wednesday evening. The British High Commission celebrated the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III and the Coronation of the King and Queen. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md. Tajul Islam joined the reception as the guest of honour. Dhaka-based music producer invited to a research trip to Switzerland “With thanks to our partners, we are also making a donation today to support women’s empowerment and climate justice through youth engagement in Bangladesh. His Majesty is a strong supporter of youth, community, sustainability, and diversity and with this contribution we pay tribute to him," said the British High Commissioner. A wide range of dignitaries from the government of Bangladesh; Bangladesh parliament; the diplomatic corps and representatives from the fields of business, trade, social development, academia, arts, culture, media and sports joined the celebration. In honour of the King, the themes of the event were “youth, community, diversity, and sustainability”. Switzerland will develop skilled manpower in Bangladesh under a new MoU A significant portion of the sponsorship raised for the event will be used to support the empowerment of women in leadership and youth promotion of climate advocacy across Bangladesh, through YouthNet for Climate Justice and WAVE Foundation for Women in Leadership. The King’s Birthday Party is celebrated by British embassies and high commissions around the world. This year, the King turns 75 on November 14. His Majesty the King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace.  

King Charles III lives in a palace, travels in a chauffeur-driven Bentley and is one of Britain’s richest men, but he's similar to many of his subjects in one very basic way: His family life is complicated — very complicated. There’s a second wife, an embarrassing brother, and an angry son and daughter-in-law, all with allies who aren’t shy about whispering family secrets in the ears of friendly reporters. The new king will hope to keep a lid on those tensions when his royally blended family joins as many as 2,800 guests for Charles' coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. All except Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are attending. How Charles manages his family drama over the coming weeks and years is crucial to the king’s efforts to preserve and protect the 1,000-year-old hereditary monarchy he now embodies. Without the respect of the public, the House of Windsor risks being lumped together with pop stars, social media influencers and reality TV contestants as fodder for the British tabloids, undermining the cachet that underpins its role in public life. Royal historian Hugo Vickers says people should look past the sensational headlines and focus on what Charles accomplishes now that he is king. Also read: King’s coronation draws apathy, criticism in former colonies “In a sense, he sort of becomes a new man when he becomes king,” said Vickers, author of “Coronation: The Crowning of Elizabeth II.” “Look at him as he is now, look at him the way he is approaching everything, look at his positivity and look at how right he’s been on so many issues,” he added. “Unfortunately, he had those difficult times with his marriages and some of the other issues, but we live in a very tricky era.” The horror show came back to haunt Charles last week, when the king’s estranged younger son, Prince Harry, dropped a new round of allegations Tuesday about the royal family into the middle of the coronation buildup. In written evidence for his invasion of privacy claim against a British newspaper, Harry claimed his father prevented him from filing the lawsuit a decade ago. The prince said Charles didn’t want to dredge up graphic testimony about his extramarital affair with the former Camilla Parker-Bowles when he was married to the late Princess Diana. Diana was the mother of Harry and his elder brother and heir to the throne, William, the Prince of Wales. Camilla, now the queen consort, went on to marry Charles in 2005 and will be crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey. If the past is any indication, attention will now shift to body language, seating plans and even wardrobe choices during the coronation, as royal watchers look for any signs of a thaw in the family tensions. But Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, doesn’t expect Harry to have a lot of contact with the rest of his family. In any case, Harry won’t be in the U.K. for long, so there’s not much time for fence mending. "The stuff that we discovered (Tuesday) is really not going to help his cause,” Little said. “But, you know, will there be time to go over all that with the king and the Prince of Wales? Unlikely.” The royal soap opera didn’t begin with the current generation of royals. After all, Edward VIII sparked a constitutional crisis in 1936 when he abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Charles’ grandfather, George VI, is credited with saving the monarchy with a life of low-key public service after he replaced his flamboyant elder brother. The late Queen Elizabeth II burnished the family’s reputation during a 70-year reign, in which she became a symbol of stability who cheered the nation’s victories and comforted it during darker times. But Charles grew up in a different era, under the glare of media attention as deference to the monarchy faded. He has been a controversial figure ever since the very public breakdown of his marriage to Diana, who was revered by many people for her looks and her compassion. Diana alleged that there had been “three people” in the marriage, pointing the finger at Charles’ longtime love Camilla Parker-Bowles. Camilla, initially reviled by Diana’s fans, has worked hard to rehabilitate her image. Her ex-husband and their children are expected to attend the coronation, with her grandsons serving as pages of honor. She supports a raft of causes, ranging from adult literacy to protecting the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. But even that effort has sparked tensions. Harry claimed in his memoir “Spare” that the senior royals leaked unflattering stories about him to the news media in return for more favorable coverage, particularly to improve Camilla's image. At the time of their marriage in 2018, Harry and Meghan were celebrated as the new face of the monarchy. Meghan, a biracial American actress, brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the royal family and many observers hoped she would help the Windsors connect with younger people in an increasingly multicultural nation. Those hopes quickly crumbled amid allegations that palace officials were insensitive to Meghan’s mental health struggles as she adjusted to royal life. Harry and Meghan walked away from frontline royal duties three years ago and moved to California, from which they have lobbed repeated critiques at the House of Windsor. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey they hinted at racism in the palace, alleging that one unidentified member of the royal family had inquired about the color of their unborn son’s skin before his birth. Harry, i n a Netflix series broadcast last year, said the episode was an example of unconscious bias and that the royal family needed to “learn and grow” so it could be “part of the solution rather than part of the problem.” The repeated attacks led to months of speculation about whether the couple would be invited to the coronation. The palace finally answered that question two weeks ago when it announced that Harry would attend but Meghan would remain in California with their two children. And then there is Charles' brother Prince Andrew, who became a toxic time bomb inside the royal family when the world learned about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the financier's long-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in 2008, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on a second set of charges. Maxwell was convicted last year of helping procure young girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida. Andrew gave up his royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous interview with the BBC in which he tried to explain away his links to Epstein and Maxwell. He was stripped of his honorary military titles and patronages as he prepared to defend a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who said she was forced to have sex with the prince when she was a teenager. Andrew denied the allegations but settled the suit last year before it came to trial. While terms of the agreement weren’t released, The Sun newspaper reported that Charles and the late queen paid the bulk of the estimated 7 million pound ($8.7 million) settlement. “I think it was inevitable that when Charles became king, a lot of the personal stuff would come back to haunt him,″ Little said. “I think as far as the king is concerned, he just has to shrug his shoulders and get on with the job in hand.”  

Queen Elizabeth II has been likened to the invisible glue holding the United Kingdom together. Some think the reign of King Charles III will see those bonds come unstuck, giving new momentum to Scotland’s push for independence. But the fact the queen died last week at her beloved Highland retreat, Balmoral Castle, has made Scotland the focus of commemorations watched around the globe in the first days after her death. That has served as a reminder of the monarchy’s deep ties to Scotland — and could provide a boost for the union. Scottish historian Tom Devine said because by “extraordinary serendipity” the queen died in Scotland, “it was possible for the world to see the relationship between the queen and this country.” Also read: Public can pay respects to Queen Elizabeth at Edinburgh cathedral “It was a fitting end to a life of service and a life of concern for the four nations — not simply one nation — of the U.K.,” he said. In a touching display of respect, thousands of people on Sunday lined the 175-mile (280 kilometer) route from Balmoral to Edinburgh as the queen’s coffin was driven in a slow procession to the Scottish capital. On Monday, the coffin was carried along Edinburgh’s medieval Royal Mile to St. Giles’ Cathedral, where thousands more are expected to pay their respects over the next day. The queen had deep ties to Scotland. Besides spending her summer months at Balmoral, her mother, the late Queen Mother, was Scottish and as a child the queen grew up playing on her grandparents' estate of Glamis Castle in central Scotland. So far there have been only tiny protests by anti-monarchist demonstrators. One woman was arrested in Edinburgh on Sunday for breaching the peace after brandishing a profane sign calling for the abolition of the monarchy. King Charles III has moved quickly to stress that he will be a monarch for the whole of the U.K., undertaking a national tour during his first days on the throne. He was in Scotland on Monday accompanying his mother’s coffin, and he plans to visit Northern Ireland and Wales later in the week, attending memorial services in Belfast and Cardiff. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all part of the U.K. but have distinct histories — and complex ties with England, which dominates the U.K. in both population and politics. Some Welsh nationalists have objected to Prince William being recently given the title of Prince of Wales — a title first given to the heir to the throne after the English conquest of Wales in the 14th century. Also read: Rules issued for paying respects to the queen The status of the monarchy has always been fraught in Northern Ireland, where there are two main communities: unionists who consider themselves British and nationalists who see themselves as Irish. That split fueled decades of violence known as “The Troubles,” and remains a deep divide. But in a sign of how far Northern Ireland has come on the road to peace, representatives of the Irish Republican Army-linked party Sinn Fein are attending commemorative events for the queen in Belfast. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill praised “the significant contribution Queen Elizabeth made to the advancement of peace and reconciliation between the different traditions on our island, and between Ireland and Britain during the years of the peace process.” Scotland and England have been governed under the same monarch since 1603, and formally unified in 1707. But Scotland has distinct educational and legal systems and, since 1999, its own parliament. Relations now between the Conservative U.K. government in London and the pro-independence Scottish administration in Edinburgh are tense. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who left office last week, was unpopular in Scotland, where a majority opposed his pet project: Brexit. Johnson led the U.K. out of the European Union after a 2016 referendum in which the country as a whole backed leaving — but Scotland voted to stay in the bloc. Devine said Johnson’s government had displayed “a reduction in respect for Scotland as an historic nation.” “That attitude of disrespect considerably annoyed the Scottish electorate over the last few years,” he said. “But there is a still a very strong sense here that the monarchy — especially in the person of the queen — maintains that respect.” In 2014, Scotland held a referendum on whether to remain part of the U.K. Voters rejected independence by 55% to 45% in what was billed as a once-in-a-generation choice. But the Scottish National Party government in Edinburgh is pushing for a new independence referendum, arguing that Brexit has radically changed the political and economic landscape.   Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to hold such a vote in October 2023. But new Prime Minister Liz Truss, like Johnson, says her government will not agree, and without its approval a referendum would not be binding. Amid the political deadlock, Sturgeon has appealed to the courts for the power to call a referendum on her own. The U.K. Supreme Court is to start hearing the case next month. As monarch, Charles is required to remain politically neutral. His mother caused a stir in 2014 when she remarked that Scots should “think very carefully” before voting — a remark widely seen as opposing independence. Even after that comment, the queen remained widely respected by people on both sides of Scotland’s independence debate. Sturgeon, the pro-independence first minister, praised Elizabeth on Monday as “the Queen of Scots” and “the great constant -- the anchor of our nation.” Pauline Maclaran, an expert on royal culture at Royal Holloway University of London, said “it will remain to be seen if Charles can command the same loyalty” as his mother. “There will be a honeymoon period for Charles, I think, where everybody — out of respect, but also their own feelings — will lay off the usual demands for independence,” she said. But Maclaran felt that period would not last. “I think they (demands for Scottish independence) will come back. And I think the whole question will be how much can Charles build his bonds with them? What bonds does he have? That will then be one of his tests, that’s for sure,” she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday extended her heartiest felicitations to the United Kingdom’s new monarch King Charles III on his accession to the throne. In a signed letter, on behalf of the People and the Government of Bangladesh, she said: “I am confident that under your visionary reign, the people of the United Kingdom will continue to enjoy an ever-flourishing future, building on the legacy of your beloved mother, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second.” Also read: PM Hasina to address the press Wednesday on her India visit She also offered her wholehearted support to the King to further strengthen the excellent friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries and steer the Commonwealth in the desired direction. PM Hasina wished the King, The Queen Consort, and the Royal Family the very best of health, happiness, and long life, and the friendly people of the United Kingdom continued peace, progress, and prosperity. Also read: PM likely to attend Queen’s state funeral

King Charles III was officially announced as Britain’s monarch Saturday, in a ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism — and, for the first time, broadcast live. Charles automatically became king when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday, but the accession ceremony is a key constitutional and ceremonial step in introducing the new monarch to the country. Scores of senior politicians past and present, including Prime Minister Liz Truss and five of her predecessors, gathered in the ornate state apartments at St. James’s Palace for the meeting of the Accession Council. They met without Charles, officially confirming his title, King Charles III. The king joined them to make a personal declaration, vowing to follow his mother’s “inspiring example” as he took on the duties of monarch. “I know how deeply you and the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathize with me in this irreparable loss we have all suffered," he said. Also read: UK already wondering whether King Charles will depart from his mother’s traditions It’s the first time the ceremony has been held since 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne. Charles is accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his eldest son Prince William. William is now heir to the throne and known by the title Charles long held, Prince of Wales. After the ceremony, an official will read the proclamation aloud from a balcony at St. James’s Palace. It will also be read out in the medieval City of London and at other locations across the U.K. Two days after the 96-year-old queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland following an unprecedented 70 years on the throne, people still came in their thousands to pay their respects outside Buckingham Palace in London. The scene was repeated at other royal residences across the U.K. and at British embassies around the world. The monarch set the tone for his reign on Friday, vowing in a televised address to carry on the queen's “lifelong service,” with his own modernizing stamp. Also read: What’s next for the UK as King Charles III starts his reign Charles looked to both the past — noting his mother’s unwavering “dedication and devotion as sovereign” — and the future, seeking to strike a reassuring note of constancy while signaling that his will be a 21st-century monarchy. He reflected on how the country had changed dramatically during the queen’s reign into a society “of many cultures and many faiths,” and pledged to serve people in Britain and the 14 other countries where he is king “whatever may be your background or beliefs.” He also tried to overcome a reputation for aloofness in his first hours as monarch, spending time shaking hands with some of the thousands who came to leave flowers and pay tribute to the queen at the gates of Buckingham Palace. He was greeted with shouts of “Well done, Charlie!” and “God save the king!” One woman gave him a kiss on the cheek. Britain is holding a period of mourning for the queen, with days of carefully choreographed ceremonies marking the death of the only monarch most people have ever known. In the next few days the queen’s body will be brought from Balmoral, first to Edinburgh and then to London, where she will lie in state before a funeral at Westminster Abbey, expected around Sept. 19. In his speech, Charles struck a personal note, speaking of his sorrow at the loss of “my darling Mama.” “Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years,” he said, ending with a quote from Shakespeare's “Hamlet” — “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.’”

Queen Elizabeth II has been depicted on British banknotes and coins for decades. Her portrait also has been featured on currencies in dozens of other places around the world, in a reminder of the British empire's colonial reach. So what happens next after her death this week? It will take time for the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries to swap out the monarchs on their money. But that doesn't mean the bills don't work — they do. Here's a look at what is next for the paper cash featuring the late queen: SWITCHING MONARCHS The queen’s portrait on British notes and coins is expected to replaced by a likeness of the new King Charles III, but it won’t be immediate. Also read: ‘The Crown’ pauses production because of queen’s death “Current banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be legal tender,” the Bank of England said. An announcement on existing paper money issued by the U.K.’s central bank will be made after the official 10-day mourning period has ended, it said. The Royal Mint, which is the official maker of British coins, said all coins with her portrait “remain legal tender and in circulation,” with more information to come later. “As we respect this period of respectful mourning, we continue to strike coins as usual,” the Royal Mint said on its website. With 4.7 billion U.K. banknotes worth 82 billion pounds ($95 billion) in circulation and about 29 billion coins, British money bearing the queen’s image will likely be in circulation for years. “Rather than all of the current coins and notes being handed in, the process will be a gradual one and many of the coins featuring portraits of Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation for many years to come,” according to Coin Expert, a British coin research website. After Charles takes the crown at his coronation, a new portrait will need to be taken to use on redesigned notes and coins, the website said. Coins featuring him will show him facing to the left, replacing the queen’s rightward gaze in line with tradition dating to the 17th century. It dictates monarchs be shown in profile and in opposite direction to their predecessors. Also read: Royal family's new order of succession after Queen's death WHAT ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES? Other nations' currencies that feature the queen — from Australian, Canadian and Belizean dollars — also will be updated with the new monarch, but the process could take longer, because “it is much easier to enforce a new design in the country where it originates, rather than in other countries where different jurisdiction may take place,” the Coin Expert website said. The Bank of Canada said its current $20 banknote, made of synthetic polymer, is designed “to circulate for years to come.” “There is no legislative requirement to change the design within a prescribed period when the Monarch changes,” the Bank of Canada said. In general, when a new portrait subject is chosen for Canadian money, the process begins with drawing up a fresh design, and a new note is ready to be issued “a few years later,” the bank said. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said it will issue all of its stock of coins depicting the queen before new ones go out with Charles' image. The queen also is featured on the $20 bill, which is made “infrequently" and there is no “plan to destroy stock or shorten the life of existing banknotes just because they show the Queen," the bank said. “It will be several years before we need to introduce coins featuring King Charles the Third, and longer until stocks of $20 notes are exhausted," it added. THE QUEEN'S CURRENCY She first appeared on money when she was still a princess. That was in 1935, when Canada's $20 bill featured 8-year-old Princess Elizabeth, whose grandfather King George V was then the monarch, as part of a new series of notes. Canadian $20 bills were updated with a new portrait of the queen in 1954, a year after her coronation, and her portrait also started appearing on other currencies around the world, mainly British colonies and Commonwealth countries. British bills didn't get her image until 1960 — seven years after her coronation. That's when the Bank of England was granted permission to use her likeness on paper money, starting with the 1-pound note, though the formal and regal image was criticized for being too severe and unrealistic. She became the first monarch to be depicted on British banknotes. British coins, meanwhile, have featured kings and queens for more than 1,000 years. CURRENCIES OUTSIDE THE U.K. At one time, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on at least 33 different currencies, more than any other monarch, an achievement noted by Guinness World Records. Her image is still featured on money in places where she remains a beloved figure, such as Canada, and continue to incorporate the Union Jack into their flags, like Australia and New Zealand. She's also found on notes and coins issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the monetary authority for a group of small nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Other places have long stopped putting her face on their currency. After Jamaica gained independence from Britain in 1962, its central bank replaced the queen on paper notes with portraits of national heroes such as Marcus Garvey. Notes in the Seychelles now feature local wildlife instead of the queen. Bermuda did a similar revamp, though the queen retains a minor position on bills. Trinidad and Tobago swapped in a coat of arms after it became a republic. Hong Kong dollars issued after Britain handed its colony back to Beijing in 1997 feature Chinese dragons and skyscrapers on the Asian financial center's skyline.

As the United Kingdom mourns a beloved queen, the nation is already wondering how King Charles III will reign and whether his monarchy will depart from the traditions of his mother. If his first full day on the throne is any indication, Charles seemed ready to chart at least a slightly different course. When Charles traveled to Buckingham Palace for the first time as the new king Friday, his limousine snaked through a sea of spectators then stopped short of the palace gates before he got out and shook hands with well-wishers. Charles looked more like a U.S. president on the campaign trail than the latest steward of a 1,000-year-old hereditary monarchy. It’s not that Queen Elizabeth II didn’t meet her subjects. She did, often. But this felt different — a bit less formal, a bit more relaxed and personal. Charles spent almost 10 minutes greeting people pressed up against the crowd-control barriers, smiling, waving, accepting condolences and the occasional bouquet of flowers as the audience broke out in a chorus of “God Save the King.” After inspecting the tributes to his mother lined up outside the palace, he waved once more and walked through the gates with Camilla, the Queen Consort. “It was impressive, touching, a good move to come out to the crowds,” said Ammar Al-Baldawi, 64, a retiree from Hertfordshire who was among the throngs outside the palace. “I think that’s where the royal family needs to communicate with the people now.” Charles’ efforts to engage with the public more intimately reflect the fact that he needs their support. There are difficult issues ahead, most pressingly how the 73-year-old king will carry out his role as head of state. The laws and traditions that govern Britain’s constitutional monarchy dictate that the sovereign must stay out of partisan politics, but Charles has spent much of his adult life speaking out on issues that are important to him, particularly the environment. His words have caused friction with politicians and business leaders who accused the then-Prince of Wales of meddling in issues on which he should have remained silent. The question is whether Charles will follow his mother’s example and muffle his personal opinions now that he is king, or use his new platform to reach a broader audience. In his first speech as monarch, Charles sought to put his critics at ease.   “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities,″ he said. “It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”   Ed Owens, a historian and author of “The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932-53,” said that while Charles will tread a careful path, it’s unlikely he will suddenly stop talking about climate change and the environment — issues where there is a broad consensus about the urgent need for action. “To not do so would not be true to the image that he has until this moment developed,” Owens said. John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy for climate, said he hopes Charles will continue speaking out about climate change because it is a universal issue that doesn’t involve ideology. Kerry was in Scotland to meet with the Prince of Wales this week, but the session was canceled when the queen died. “It doesn’t mean he’s involved in the daily broil of politics or speaking for a specific piece of legislation,” Kerry told the BBC. “But I can’t imagine him not … feeling compelled to use the important role of the monarch, with all the knowledge he has about it, to speak out and urge the world to do the things the world needs to do.” Constitutional lawyers have debated for years whether Charles has pushed the boundaries of conventions designed to keep the monarchy out of the political fray. His so-called Black Spider Memos — named for his spidery handwriting — to government ministers have been cited as evidence that he wouldn’t be neutral in his dealings with Parliament. The debate has also spilled over into fiction. In the 2014 play “King Charles III,” playwright Mike Bartlett imagines the new king, uncertain of his powers and moved by his conscience, causing a constitutional crisis by refusing to sign a new law restricting press freedom. It is an illustration of the tensions inherent in a system that evolved from an absolute monarchy to one in which the sovereign plays a largely ceremonial role. While Britain’s unwritten constitution requires that legislation must receive royal assent before it becomes law, this is considered a formality that the monarch cannot refuse. In an interview for a 2018 documentary broadcast on his 70th birthday, Charles said he would behave differently when he became king because the monarch has a different role than the Prince of Wales. Even so, he questioned the criticism he has received over the years. Read: When Queen Elizabeth II came to Bangladesh “I’ve always been intrigued if it’s meddling to worry about the inner cities, as I did 40 years ago, and what was happening or not happening there, the conditions in which people were living,” he wondered. “If that’s meddling, I’m very proud of it.” On another issue facing the new king, Charles has said clearly that he intends to reduce the number of working royals and cut expenses as he seeks to ensure the monarchy better represents modern Britain. Robert Lacey, a royal historian and adviser on the Netflix series “The Crown,” said this initiative underscores the important role of Prince William, who is now heir to the throne. William has already made the environment one of his primary issues, and he is likely to take an even more prominent role in this area now that his father is king, Lacey told the BBC. But there is another clue to the new king’s plans for his reign, and that’s his choice of a name. Before Elizabeth’s time, there was a tradition that British monarchs would choose a new name when they ascended the throne. Charles’ grandfather, for instance was known as Bertie before he became King George VI. There was some thought Charles would choose to be known as King George VII in honor of his grandfather. Read: Tears and tributes for Queen across the world But Charles rejected the idea and kept his own name. That’s a “clear message” that the king will continue to champion the causes he backed as Prince of Wales, Lacey said. It was his father, Prince Philip, who identified ways in which the neutral monarchy could advocate for youth development and the environment — “really important causes that they could push forward without being accused of partisanship,” he said.