Canada unveils new $20 bill featuring portrait of King Charles

Canada has unveiled a new $20 banknote featuring a portrait of King Charles III, marking the first time a monarch has appeared on a Canadian banknote in over 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. The announcement was made at a Bank of Canada event, with Governor Tiff Macklem describing it as "a very special day." The banknote's unique feature is its vertical orientation.

The reverse side showcases the Vimy Ridge memorial in France, symbolizing Canada's contribution to World War I. Unlike Australia, which will not feature King Charles on its banknotes, Canada is the first Commonwealth nation to do so since his ascension to the throne. The banknote also displays a floral and leafy tapestry, inspired by the King’s commitment to the environment, in consultation with an Indigenous advisory council.

Wayne Long, a Liberal MP and secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency, noted that the symbols on the banknote "serve as a powerful reminder of who we are as a nation and what we value." This is the second vertical banknote issued in Canada, following the $10 bill featuring Black civil rights advocate Viola Desmond, which was selected as the best in the world by the International Bank Note Society in 2018.

The new $20 banknote is set to enter circulation early next year. While some Canadians, particularly in Quebec, have expressed a desire to end formal ties to the British monarchy, the monarchy's popularity rose slightly amid tensions between Canada and the US, including the US-Canada trade war and President Trump's controversial statements about making Canada the "51st state."

Prime Minister Mark Carney invited King Charles to open Canada’s parliament in May, reinforcing Canada's sovereignty.