King Charles' silhouette features on a new set of stamps - marking a major milestone in British philatelic history.
The monarch's uncrowned profile, in silver and facing to the right in the top left hand corner, appears on a collection of 10 special stamps celebrating the nation's favourite flowers. Unlike Queen Elizabeth's famous silhouette, the King is not wearing a laurel wreath.
The late Queen's silhouette - with her laurel wreath - has featured on special stamps since 1966. An updated design by David Gentleman was used from 1968, adapted from Mary Gillick's original cameo portrait of the monarch used on coins.
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The final set using the Queen's image was unveiled last month in honour of the 100th anniversary of steam locomotive the Flying Scotsman. David Gold, Royal Mail's director of external affairs and policy, said: "Britain is a nation of gardeners, and a love of flowers runs deep in our collective consciousness. His Majesty is known to be a passionate gardener and we are delighted that the first special stamps to feature his silhouette should be a celebration of some of the most popular flowers in British gardens."
The delicate sweet pea - one of the late Queen's favourite blooms - is among the chosen flowers, photographed in detail on a white background. Another celebrates the sunflower and the other flowers in the first class set are a purple iris, a pink lily, a fuchsia, an orange-red tulip, a dark pink peony, a bright orange nasturtium, a pale pink rose and a light purple-tinted dahlia.
The creation of the King's silhouette was a collaboration between illustrator Andrew Davidson, Royal Mail's head of design and editorial, and Marcus James, and Ian Chilvers, from design agency Atelier Works. After Davidson - known for his illustrations of Ted Hughes's children's book The Iron Man - created a likeness of Charles that would work in miniature on a stamp, the image was then digitised and fine-tuned.
Royal Mail and Atelier Works focused on visual adjustments and tests to ensure the silhouette would work at the tiny dimensions required. The final image was adjusted to ensure a likeness to the King's image on the definitive 'everyday' stamp.
The definitive stamps, which were unveiled last month and go on sale in April, show Charles' head and neck - without a crown - traditionally facing left as all monarchs have done since the Penny Black in 1840.
The first class floral stamps are available to pre-order from March 14 at www.royalmail.com/flowers and on 03457 641 641. A presentation pack of the 10 stamps goes on general sale from March 23 and are priced at £10.40.
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