King Charles III's Regal Symbol: The New Great Seal of the Realm
Monarch Charles III unveils emblem of governance
The Great Seal of the Realm, a historic emblem of royal authority, has undergone a transformation under King Charles III. This revered symbol, in use for over 1,000 years, is now ready to authenticate documents bearing the new sovereign's seal of endorsement.
In an Instagram post, the Royal Family announced the adoption of President Charles's newly crafted seal. The use of such a symbol is significant, symbolizing royal assent on official state documents. Each monarch is assigned a unique seal during their reign.
The design of the seal reveals an image of King Charles seated on the throne, adorned in his coronation robes and clutching the orb and sceptre. The reverse bears the royal coat of arms, expertly crafted by artist Timothy Noad.
Following the tradition, the 76-year-old sovereign recently approved his new royal insignia[3]. The procedure normally requires Charles to symbolically smash Elizabeth II's seal with a hammer, signaling its eradication. The late Queen's seal, however, will be conserved as a testament to history.
According to reports, the ceremony of exchanging the seal marks the last phase of the official transition to King Charles's reign[3]. This age-old tradition originates from the 11th century.
King Charles ascended to the throne in September 2022 following the loss of Elizabeth II at the age of 96. Her reign spanned 70 years[4], resulting in the creation of two versions of her seal during her tenure. The initial seal was fashioned by English artist Gilbert Ledward in 1953[4]. Over time, the seal deteriorated due to wear and tear and the heat involved in sealing. Consequently, a second seal was designed by artist James Butler in 2001.
traditional British customs evolve over timeevery monarch is granted a unique royal sealthe Great Seal is a symbol of the monarch's powerdestruction and replacement of the seal signifies a new reignLord Chancellor oversees the Great Seal's custody
[Sources: ntv.de, lme/spot, Senate House Library, BBC, British Monarchy]
- The Great Seal of the Realm, a traditional British symbol of a monarch's power, has been replaced by King Charles III with a unique design, signifying the start of a new reign.
- Each monarch is granted a unique royal seal, a tradition that dates back over a thousand years, and King Charles III's new seal is now in use.
- The procedure of destroying the old seal and replacing it with a new one symbolizes the official transition to a new reign, a tradition that originated in the 11th century.
- The Lord Chancellor oversees the custody of the Great Seal, a perpetual reminder of the British royal family's continued evolution.
