CHARLES proved cash is King yesterday as he came face-to-face with new banknotes which feature his portrait.

The monarch, 75, was presented with the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes with 00001 serial numbers by Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey.

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The King described the polymer notes — which will go into circulation on June 5 — as “very elegant”.

Mr Bailey presented King Charles with a book which showed the front and back of the notes.

They were joined at Buckingham Palace by Bank of England Chief Cashier Sarah John, whose signature is on the currency.

The King’s image is based on a photo taken in 2013.

Unlike the notes from his mother’s reign, Charles is not wearing a crown in his portrait.

The reverse side of the banknotes will be the same — with Sir Winston Churchill on the £5, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50.

Current banknotes with Queen Elizabeth II’s face will continue to be used until they are phased out.

The Royal Household has requested new notes only be printed to replace worn-out ones and to meet any overall increase in demand — to reduce environmental and financial impact.

It is the first time a monarch’s image has been replaced by another on the notes.

The late Queen was the first sovereign to have her portrait on notes — before that it was Britannia.

Yesterday the King and Queen also marked their 19th wedding anniversary.

Charles and Camilla married on April 9, 2005 in Windsor Guildhall.

The Queen has recently been praised for taking over the King’s duties while he undergoes treatment for cancer.

But Charles has urged his aides to sign him up to upcoming engagements, including D-Day commemorations in June and a tour of Australia later this year.