UK's official coin maker, based in Llantrisant, Wales
The High Court has rejected the Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association’s challenge to planning permission for China’s mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London. The decision follows a January approval and comes as Beijing presses ahead with the project, despite concerns over safety, protests and potential spying.
The Royal Mint is releasing 600,000 coins dated 2023 and 6.5 million dated 2026 featuring King Charles’s portrait. The capercaillie design appears on the reverse, as circulation expands amid strong demand. Queen Elizabeth II coins remain legal tender while the transition continues.
Heritage sites across the UK are at risk as repair costs rise and funding remains tight. Ashton Court Mansion in Bristol is in very bad condition, with a restoration bill around £20m. The Assize Court in Devizes faces near £15m in costs, while the Lansdowne Monument is undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration led by the National Trust. Groundworks for Devizes begin soon, with an opening planned for 2030; Ashton Court has raised £200,000 so far.