CR III Cypher

Today, the United Kingdom’s Royal Mail unveiled the new Royal Cypher for King Charles III.

The King's Cypher consists of his initial C, with the roman numeral III and an R for Rex - Latin for King - under a Tudor Crown.

The United Kingdom got its first Mailbox (called a Postbox or a Pillarbox in the UK) with a Royal Cypher in the 1850s.

VR Cypher stood for Queen Victoria (who reigned from 1837-1901.)

GR Cypher stood for King George V (who reigned from 1936 to 1952.)

EIIR Cypher stood for Queen Elizabeth II (who reigned from 1952 to 2022.)

CR III Cypher stands for King Charles III (who has reigned since 2022.)

The new Cypher will not be applied to new Postboxes in Scotland, as since 1955 they have been distinguished by the St Andrews Crown (when the Scots declared they couldn’t have a Queen Elizabeth II since they didn’t have a Queen Elizabeth I.

Note 1: Queen Elizabeth I was not Queen of Scotland.

Note 2: Canada Post (French: Postes Canada) stopped using Royal Cyphers on their Mailboxes in the 1960s.