Canada ‘affirms sovereignty’ with new vertical $20 bill featuring King Charles

Canada has introduced a new vertical $20 banknote featuring a portrait of King Charles III. This marks the first time a new monarch has appeared on a Canadian banknote in over 70 years, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The banknote was unveiled at a Bank of Canada event, with central bank governor Tiff Macklem describing it as a "very special day".

The new banknote has a unique vertical orientation and features an image of the Vimy Ridge memorial in France on the back, commemorating Canada's role in World War II. Additionally, it includes a floral and leafy tapestry inspired by King Charles' dedication to the environment. According to the National Post, the unveiling may be seen as a strategic move to shore up support from the King.

Canada is the first Commonwealth country, outside of Britain, to feature King Charles on its banknotes since his ascension to the throne. In contrast, Australia has announced plans to release a new $5 banknote that will pay tribute to the culture and history of Indigenous Australians, rather than featuring the King. The unveiling of the new Canadian banknote was attended by Wayne Long, a Liberal MP, who stated that the symbols on the banknote serve as a powerful reminder of Canadian values and identity.

Brief written by urgent.news from National Post, KahawaTungu, BBC News — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.