Military uniforms will continue to feature the Queen’s cypher for years to come despite the King succeeding her as Commander-in-Chief.
King Charles and the Prince of Wales were both seen, along with the Armed Forces and other members of the Royal Family, wearing the initials of Her Majesty during yesterday’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London.
Eventually, the initials will transition to the King’s cypher but this will only happen when existing supplies of badges, buttons and insignia run out, the Telegraph reports.
The monarch’s cypher will feature his initials, the reginal number III and the Tudor Crown.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the switch over will be gradual with individual regiments implementing the new cypher in their own time.
The gradual switch follows similarly to when the Queen ascended to the throne in 1952, when uniforms featuring her father George VI’s cypher, continued to be worn until stocks were depleted.
Like all public services, the Armed Forces have been hit financially during a period of economic turmoil.
It would be seen as a waste to get rid of the existing supply seeing as they have already been paid for. The King is also famously against waste and is in no hurry to remove his mother’s cypher – even on his own uniform.
Military uniforms will continue to feature the cypher of the late Queen for years to come despite the King succeeding her as Commander-in-Chief. Pictured: King Charles was seen with his late mother’s cypher on his uniform yesterday
Prince William could also be seen with his late grandmother’s initials on his uniform as he paid his respects at the Cenotaph yesterday
Soldiers are also unlikely to be eager to remove the Queen’s initials, considering most would have served under her name during her 70-year reign.
There are more than 193,000 military personnel, meaning it would be some feat to replace all of the uniform if a switch was to be ordered.
Yesterday, the Queen’s initials stood out as the King was pictured saluting at the Cenotaph.
They cypher could be seen on the overcoat he was wearing which was part of his Field Marsha;’s uniform.
A spokesperson for the King said that no decision had yet been taken on when changes to his uniforms would be made.
It may be that he waits until after his coronation next May before changing his uniform along with the rest of the Royal Family.
King Charles was visibly emotional as he was forced to compose himself before laying his wreath at the Cenotaph.
Charles laid a new poppy wreath incorporating a ribbon of his racing colours, with the design a tribute to the ones used by both his late mother and his grandfather George VI.
King Charles III led other members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal, out to attend the Cenotaph service
It was not the first time King Charles has led Prince William (left) and Princess Anne (right) to the ceremony – but it is the first time he has done so as a monarch
Crowds lined the streets of London, with war veterans including Chelsea Pensioners preparing to take part in the march.
At around 10:40am, the march past the Cenotaph paused temporarily while Scottish members of the UK’s armed forces, the Fourth Battalion of Highlanders, played the bagpipes, accompanied by drums.
At 10.58am, the military parade was brought to attention as King Charles III arrived.
Prince William laid his wreath, featuring the new Welsh red ribbon, on the left-hand side of his father’s, before bowing his head respectfully during the ceremony
The Cenotaph in London, pictured moments before the arrival of King Charles III and the two-minute silence
At 11am, Big Ben rang eleven times to mark the beginning of the two minutes of silence, and a somber hush fell over the crowd.
After the two minutes of prayer and reflection had ended, in an emotional tribute to those killed during the wars of the last century, members of the military played the Last Post.
King Charles III then laid his wreath and saluted to the Cenotaph on behalf of the nation. A wreath was then laid on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Consort.
The Queen Consort’s assistant equerry, Captain Edward Andersen, laid her tribute, the first laid on behalf of Camilla alone.
The Prince of Wales then proceeded to lay his wreath, complete with the feathers of the heir apparent. This was the wreath previously laid by his father. The wreath, bearing the colours of the Prince of Wales, also bears a brand-new ribbon in Welsh red.
The Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal then laid a wreath, before one was laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent.