King Charles stunned by UK children's unexpected decision

King Charles III's popularity in the UK is growing with every passing day, but the latest update from Britain may come as a surprise to the monarch, as the UK's children share their verdict amid a new development.

The 77-year-old monarch has received a shocking update about his popularity among British kids, with majority of them wanting the late Queen's portrait on new banknotes, according to a new report.

The Bank of England announced earlier this year that the next series of new notes will feature nature, replacing historical figures such as Winston Churchill and Jane Austin.

Four animals from a shortlist of 18 - for separate £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes - will be chosen, following public consultation.

The face of the current monarch will continue to be emblazoned on the front of the notes.

However, the new polling shows that children prefer Queen Elizabeth to be the face of new bank notes over King Charles.

Ahead of the new banknotes, Merlin Strategy spoke to British children aged 7-11 to see their preferences. For the animal, 49 per cent of children asked would prefer a red fox.

However, interestingly, half of those asked would like to see the face of Queen Elizabeth II as a historical figure, rather than nature.

In fact, the late Queen, who reigned in Britain for more than 70 years, was the most popular choice for the upcoming series of notes among 7-11 year-olds.

Andrew Fox, acting CEO of Children’s Parliament, said: "It’s fantastic to see children having their say on who and what should appear on our banknotes.

"Whether they’re choosing Queen Elizabeth II or a Red Fox, what really stands out is that children have views just like the rest of the public."

The findings also show that many children are already interested in politics and feel ready to play a greater role in our democracy.

It comes as the Royal Mint confirmed that more than seven million 10p coins carrying King Charles' portrait began finding their way into the nation's purses and pockets for the very first time last week.

These pieces mark the fourth denomination to bear the King's face, joining the 5p, 50p and £1 coins that have entered everyday use since 2022.