British Royal Mail unveils the first stamps featuring King Charles III

For the first time in 70 years, Britain has a new monarch gracing their stamps ...

Overnight, the Royal Mail unveiled the first stamps bearing King Charles III.

The image of the King - which will be featured on first and second-class stamps - has been revealed as a simple profile image, showing his head and neck in the style of all British monarchs since Queen Victoria.

In keeping with stamp tradition, the King faces to the left - but unlike the late Queen's stamp, he is not wearing a crown.

The same image has been used by the Royal Mint to make coins.

However, the new stamps will not go on sale immediately because Charles wants existing supplies of stamps adorning the late Queen to go out of stock first.

Royal Mail's Director of External Affairs and Policy, David Gold said: "The King gave very clear directions he didn't want anything to be pulped, he didn't want things being shredded, he didn't want stock being thrown away.

"He was very clear, however long it takes you to clear the stock, there's no rush."

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to appear on a postage stamp, appearing on the world’s first ever stamp, known as the Penny Black, in 1840.

Five other British monarchs have featured on stamps since then, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait became an iconic image, reproduced by artists such as Andy Warhol.