London - (AFP) - Britain's Royal Mail (Royal Mail) on Wednesday unveiled the first stamps bearing the image of Charles III , who became king after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8.

The authority said in a statement that the stamps will be put up for sale as of April 4, and the king has approved the design, "as is the case with all new stamp designs."

The new image is a modified version of a portrait by sculptor Martin Jennings for the Royal Mint, the body responsible for minting British coins.

The image shows the new monarch looking to the left, against a background that ranges in color from purple to green and navy, depending on the different types of stamps, according to the post office statement.

The new stamps will replace those depicting Queen Elizabeth II, which were designed by sculptor Arnold Machen in the 1960s and have become "an iconic symbol of the United Kingdom around the world, used billions of times", according to the British Postal Service.

However, existing stamps bearing the late queen's image will still be for sale and usable, to "reduce the environmental impact" of the change to the throne.

"In a unique feature, the name of the country of origin is not printed on British stamps because the image of the king is sufficient," said Simon Thompson, general manager of the Royal Mail, in statements made by the authority's statement.

The first coins bearing the image of Charles III entered circulation in early December, and are now found in post offices in the country.

Also, the first banknotes bearing the image of the king were unveiled at the end of December by the Bank of England, and circulation will begin in mid-2024 in the United Kingdom.