King Charles today enjoyed a momentous moment of his reign when he was presented with new bank notes bearing his portrait.

The King praised the notes as ‘very well designed’ and expressed his surprise at being only the second monarch to feature. He received a leather-bound booklet containing the historic legal tender from Andrew Bailey at Buckingham Palace.

It was a indeed a milestone moment when the monarch, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer came face to face with his own face on the new banknotes which will go into circulation in June.

It follows the tradition of the monarch receiving the first issues of new banknotes.

The existing banknotes, from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, will continue to be used alongside the new notes.

The King has not been taking part in big public engagements since his cancer diagnosis, but has continued his participation in private events, such as weekly briefing by the prime minister and this meeting where he was shown the banknotes by the governor of the Bank of England.

Bailey told the King this was the first time the Bank of England had had to change the monarch on the banknotes – as the late Queen Elizabeth II had been the first monarch to have her portrait on all the Bank of England’s banknotes.

The King, who was presented with a set of notes with 00001 serial numbers, described the design as “very elegant”.

The Bank of England says there will be a gradual introduction for the King Charles banknotes, with the current Queen Elizabeth notes remaining in use until they become worn or damaged.