5 Pounds

The Bank of England issued the 5 Pounds polymer banknote dated 2023, marking the introduction of King Charles III's portrait on UK circulation currency following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. This blue-turquoise note measures 125 mm x 65 mm and bears the signature of Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England. Although the copyright date on the note reads 2023, banknotes bearing King Charles III's portrait were officially first issued into circulation on June 5, 2024, with notes remaining in co-circulation with Queen Elizabeth II designs.

The obverse features King Charles III's portrait (based on a photograph taken by Chris Levine) alongside the Bank of England's Threadneedle Street headquarters and the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) over a transparent window. The reverse continues to display Sir Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister who led Britain through the Second World War, along with the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower. Churchill has appeared on the 5 Pounds note since 2016.

The introduction of King Charles III on UK banknotes represents a significant historical transition, the first change of monarch on British currency since the 1950s. The Bank of England announced that existing Queen Elizabeth II notes would remain legal tender indefinitely, allowing for a gradual natural replacement without disrupting circulation. The polymer substrate, introduced for the 5 Pound note in 2016, provides durability approximately 2.5 times greater than paper notes.