UK Government Faces Backlash For Dropping ‘His Majesty’ From Official Correspondences

Britain’s Labour government has come under fire from Conservative politicians after confirming it will no longer use “His Majesty’s Government” (HM Government) in official communications, opting instead for a simpler “UK Government” logo.

The change, announced earlier this week, marked a break from long-standing tradition that references the British monarch, currently King Charles III in formal state communications.

A minister confirmed that “a strategic decision has been made to adopt ‘UK Government’ as the primary branding for all public-facing communications,” replacing the previous Royal Coat of Arms logo that bore the inscription “HM Government.”

The move has drawn sharp criticism from sections of the opposition, who accuse the Labour administration of undermining British heritage and constitutional symbolism.

“How typical that Labour should be trying to quietly obliterate tradition,” said Conservative MP Alex Burghart, describing the decision as “disrespectful towards Britain’s history, culture, and constitutional settlement.”

Under the previous Conservative government, in power until 2024, official guidance required departments to use the “HM Government” logo “wherever possible” to reflect continuity with the monarchy.

However, a government spokesperson defended the rebrand, saying it was designed to improve clarity and reflect the government’s purpose more directly.

“It’s the right move and reflects their true purpose, serving the people not the powerful,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

Smith linked the shift in branding to a broader public sentiment amid declining support for the monarchy following renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s ties to the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.

A Savanta poll commissioned by Republic earlier this week found support for the monarchy had fallen to 45 percent, down from the 57–59 percent recorded by YouGov in mid-January.

In a separate YouGov poll for Sky News, 45 percent of respondents said King Charles III had done all he could to distance himself from his disgraced brother, while nearly 40 percent believed the monarch should be doing more.

The branding controversy came as the Royal Family faced renewed public criticism and as the government sought to project a modern, people-focused image, one that, for now, no longer bears the monarch’s name.