A new photo released on Friday, 23 September 2022, shows King Charles III carrying out official government duties from his Red Box in the Eighteenth Century Room at Buckingham Palace.

A photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, given to King George VI in 1951, sits on a table behind The King as he reaches for the papers inside the red box including one tied with a purple ribbon.

They contain papers from government ministers in the United Kingdom and the Realms as well as representatives from the Commonwealth and other nations.

Luxury leather goods manufacturers Barrow Hepburn and Gale make the boxes, which weigh about 2-3 kilograms (4-7 pounds), using slow-grown pine, lined with lead and black satin, and covered in leather.

Each box is embossed with the royal cypher of the reigning monarch.

According to an article from ITV News, new boxes for King Charles are already in production, bearing the new royal cypher, and will be delivered during the coming months.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Red Boxes

Queen Elizabeth II received her Red Boxes every day, except on Christmas Day, during her 70-year reign.

However, Queen Elizabeth had her red boxes, which had been made for her coronation in 1953, regularly refurbished to keep them in good condition.

The last photo of Her Majesty with her red box was released on 6 February to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee on Accession Day.