King Charles has approved a new Great Seal of the Realm – the chief symbol of royal authority, used to signify the monarch’s approval of official State documents.
The King’s Great Seal of the Realm. (Royal Family)
The new seal, which was formally approved during a recent Privy Council meeting, features His Majesty seated on a throne, clad in flowing Coronation robes that evoke the grandeur and theatricality of a Shakespearean monarch. Crafted in silver by the Royal Mint, the seal reflects both artistic excellence and heraldic precision. On one side is Charles’ regal likeness; the reverse bears an intricate depiction of the Royal Arms, designed by renowned heraldic artist Timothy Noad.
King Charles has approved a new Great Seal of the Realm – the chief symbol of royal authority.
The creation of a new Great Seal marks the final formal stage in the transition to a new reign, serving as a visual and functional confirmation of the Sovereign’s authority. Each Monarch has a unique seal, a tradition dating back to the 11th century when Edward the Confessor first introduced the practice by affixing a wax casting of his face to official documents. Back then, when few subjects were literate, the seal acted as a clear and unforgeable symbol of royal assent.
With the approval of the new seal comes the customary destruction of the previous one – a symbolic gesture steeped in royal ritual. As tradition dictates, the old seal is struck with a hammer by the reigning monarch during the same Privy Council meeting, an act signifying the end of its use. The defaced matrix is then carefully preserved as part of the historical record.
The Great Seal of the Realm under Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (left) and now of His Majesty The King (right). As per tradition, the old seal has been destroyed. pic.twitter.com/9ZbzVf0Cst
— Matthew Sproule (@MatthewSproul13) May 10, 2025
For many Monarchs, a single seal has been enough. However, in the case of some long-reigning monarchs, Elizabeth II, whose reign spanned a remarkable 70 years, had two Great Seals created during her time. The first, designed by English sculptor Gilbert Ledward in 1953, was eventually replaced in 2001 with a version by James Butler, who also created the statue of Richard III in Leicester. Her seal carried the inscription: “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the Britains and her other realms Queen, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, Defender of the Faith.”
Though today’s monarchs govern within the framework of a constitutional monarchy – acting on the advice of elected ministers – the Great Seal remains a potent emblem of the Crown’s enduring presence. It allows for official documents to be validated without the need for the King’s personal signature, a practical evolution rooted in ancient necessity.
