Military unveils new cap badges showing King's cypher

Dozens of new cap badges with King Charles' cypher have been unveiled by the military.

The new cypher will be worn for the first time on the King's coronation on 6 May by hundreds of military personnel.

A cap badge is a special part of military uniform and is used to distinguish which organisation personnel belong to.

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"A bit like a football fan's scarf, it identifies who you are and what you are," said the British Army’s Tri-Service Ceremonial policy and plans lead, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret'd) Kestrel Simson.

"When you have lots of different corps and regiments together you will see people gravitate towards their own cap badge."

The military's new cap badges reflect the King's cypher and the Tudor Crown which appears in the King's cypher.

Cap badges currently carry the cypher of the late Queen.

The Royal cypher is a monogram-style design for a reigning monarch – it consists of the initials of their name and title and often includes a crown.

King Charles' cypher features the letter 'C' intertwined with the letter 'R' for Rex (Latin for King), with 'III' within the 'R' and the Tudor Crown sitting above.

The Tudor Crown is more rounded than the St Edward's Crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation in 1953. 

Royal Navy

Petty Officers, Chief Petty Officers, Warrant Officers and Officers on parade for the cornation will bear the Tudor Crown on their caps.

"This will already be a proud moment for our sailors and Royal Marines Commandos, and it is made even more memorable with the addition of the cypher," said Warrant Officer First Class Eddie Wearing, the Royal Navy's State Ceremonial Training Officer.

The King's cypher will appear on cap badges and other adornments to Royal Navy and Royal Marines uniforms, as well as on those of British Army and RAF personnel taking part in the coronation, the Navy said.

British Army

Forty-six of the British Army's corps and regimental cap badges showing the King's cypher have been unveiled.

The cap badges will become the official new symbol for the regiments and corps.

Lt Col Simson said: "The cap badge goes to the very heart of what the Army is about.

"The last thing a soldier or officer does when they leave their accommodation or quarter is put on their beret and on that beret is the cap badge.

"It identifies the soldier as belonging to one of the Army's 74 regiments or corps."

The Queen's Royal Hussars, the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Gurkha Rifles and Grenadier Guards are among those to receive new cap badges.

The Army said after the coronation on 6 May, the new design of unit cap badges, including those not on parade, will be seen on social media and websites.

The physical transition will be gradual following the production of the new designs, as they will be rolled out across all respective British Army units, the service added.

RAF

The RAF said: "The new design of the RAF cap badge, and other adornments to RAF uniforms, reflect the style of crown personally selected by HM The King to represent his sovereignty."

Wing Commander Crook, the RAF's ceremonial lead, said: "His Majesty's cypher is an important symbol for the RAF.

"It will be worn by every RAF aviator around the world and demonstrates their belonging to His Majesty's Armed Forces."

The eventual change of all RAF uniforms to include the King's cypher will not happen immediately, the Air Force said.

Existing uniform stocks featuring the late Queen's cypher will continue to be used for "several years".

"The exceptions will be for new recruits at RAF Halton and RAF Cranwell, aviators who are involved in delivering ceremonial duties, such as The King's Colour Squadron, RAF musicians, and senior officers," the RAF said on its website.