People have been left gobsmacked after realising King Charles faces a different direction to Queen Elizabeth II on British currency – and there’s a reason why.

Coins of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II (file) (Image: Getty)

Coins bearing King Charles’ image have been in circulation since December 2022 – but some Brits are yet to see one.

For those who have, you might have noticed the King is facing the opposite direction than his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, did on her coins.

It prompted one Reddit user to ask: “Is there any significance to the way the monarch is facing on the coin? Queen was to the right and Charles to the left?”

According to the Royal Mint, a new British coinage tradition began during the Reformation. With this, each time a monarch ascended the throne, their coinage portrait would face in the opposite direction to that of their predecessor.

A statement reads: “Although the reason for this is not certain, it may have started because Charles II wanted to turn his back on Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth. The long-standing tradition continues to this day, meaning King Charles III will face to the left on his coinage, as Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II faced right.”

However, there was one exception to this tradition when Edward VIII broke protocol by insisting his portrait showed his favoured left side. The statement adds: “Following Edward VIII’s abdication, his coinage became even more fascinating.

“Created in the very early stages of production, The Royal Mint had only been able to prepare pattern pieces of the king’s coinage; no coins featuring the king’s portrait [had] been issued or passed through the Royal Proclamation process. When Edward VIII requested a set, the new monarch George VI refused, as they were not deemed official UK coins.”

The protocol continued during George VI’s reign, with his image facing left as if Edward VIII’s had faced right.

Commenting on this revelation, one user said: “This fact is both interesting and useless, my favorite kind.” Another user said: “Looks like they can’t stand each other…” A third user said: “Don’t turn your head away me, dammit! I never noticed that.”