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Royal Mail Marks the Centenary of the Birth of the Late Queen Elizabeth with Special Stamps

• Issue date: 21 April
• Eight stamps feature photographs of the late Queen Elizabeth from early childhood until late in her reign
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, reflect her lifelong love of horses and dogs
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now here and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has unveiled images of a set of 12 stamps that mark the centenary of the birth of the late Queen Elizabeth, ahead of the anniversary on 21 April 2026.

The main set of eight stamps commemorates the life and work of the late Queen Elizabeth and features photographs from throughout her life, from early childhood until late in her reign.

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet reflect her lifelong love of horses and dogs.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “With these Special Stamps, we pay tribute to the late Queen, whose commitment to duty was unparalleled in history. The stamps tell the remarkable story of a very public life of dedicated service, and a more private passion for dogs and horses, about which Her Majesty was a renowned expert.”

From her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952, the late Queen was an ever-present feature of stamps in Britain. Every stamp created during her reign featured an image of her usually in the forms of the Wilding portrait, the Machin definitive or the Gillick silhouette. She also featured on numerous stamps created to mark Royal events and anniversaries such as birthdays, jubilees and weddings. A gallery of stamps featuring the late Queen can be found here: A life in stamps

The late Queen Elizabeth
Born in the aftermath of the First World War, Elizabeth II was raised during the Second. She would go on to reign through what became known as the Jet Age, the Space Age and the Digital Age. More than half of the nations on Earth today did not exist in their present form when she succeeded her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. Her Coronation took place the following year.

She comfortably broke the reigning record of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria over seven decades in which she witnessed more change than any of her predecessors. Queen Elizabeth II always understood that the monarchy had to move with the times while connecting her people to the traditions that had shaped their country. She was a devout Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a proud Head of the Armed Forces and a diligent Head of the Commonwealth.

Beyond her duties as a monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth had a lifelong passion for animals, especially horses and dogs, and was devoted to her family. She was married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for more than 73 years and loved being surrounded by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now here and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £22.50. The stamps go on general sale from 21 April.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks 25th Anniversary Of “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” With Special Stamp Issue

• Issue date 20 March
• Each of the eight stamps in the main set features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters and include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, show iconic locations from across the franchise
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), has revealed images of a set of 12 new stamps that celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The main set of eight stamps features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters from across the franchise. British actors who played the characters featured are Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Dominic Monaghan as Merry, Billy Boyd as Pippin and Christopher Lee as Saruman.

The stamps also include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light – showing Elvish writing in a ring shape.

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet pay homage to four iconic locations – from The Shire, where Frodo’s journey begins, all the way to Mount Doom, where he must throw the One Ring into the fires to destroy it once and for all. Also shown are Rivendell, an Elven refuge and sanctuary, and the monumental Argonath, which marks the northern border of the kingdom of Gondor.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ title used on all 12 stamps in the set, replicates that of the iconic typeface used for the films.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “The Lord of the Rings ranks as one of the most iconic and beloved film series of all time, and we’re delighted to celebrate its enduring popularity with this set of Special Stamps. Each design captures the epic storytelling, artistry and imagination that have made Middle earth such a treasured part of British and global culture. We’re proud to bring these striking stamps to the nation’s letterboxes.”

Rachel Wakley, SVP & General Manager – UK & Ireland, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products said: “We’re delighted to see this special stamp collection honour the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The film has left an enduring mark on audiences around the world, and this beautifully crafted set captures the spirit, artistry and cinematic legacy that continue to inspire fans a quarter of a century on.”

The Lord of the Rings
Based on the revered The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books by J.R.R. Tolkien, New Line Cinema’s epic six-film series directed by Peter Jackson has been embraced by generations of fans, earning $6 billion at the global box office and 17 Academy Awards, becoming the most awarded series in cinematic history. Set in Middle-earth, the series begins as Frodo Baggins embarks on a perilous mission to destroy the legendary One Ring, and an adventure like no other continues from there. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Following the first film’s milestone 25th anniversary in 2026, a new film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is planned for release in theatres, with additional films to come.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps go on general sale from 20 March.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Blooming Marvellous: Royal Mail Celebrates the Beauty of Roses with Special Stamps

• Each of the 10 stamps features a commissioned watercolour painting created exclusively for Royal Mail by acclaimed botanical artist, Marie Burke
• The set showcases a range of wild and cultivated roses, including ‘Constance Spry’, the first English Rose bred by David Austin®
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now at www.royalmail.com/roses and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed a set of 10 stamps celebrating the beauty of the nation’s favourite flower, the rose. The vibrant images feature original watercolour illustrations of a variety of wild and garden roses, created exclusively for Royal Mail by acclaimed botanical artist Marie Burke.

Among the roses featured is ‘Constance Spry’, the first English Rose bred by pioneering British rose breeder David C.H. Austin, which launched a new era in rose breeding.

The stamps showcase a stunning selection of roses, from delicate wild species to classic garden favourites, each capturing the unique colour, form and character of the flower.

Roses featured in the set are:

• Dog Rose (Rosa canina)
• Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’
• Rosa ‘Just Joey’
• Rosa ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’
• Rosa ‘Étoile de Hollande’
• Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’
• Field Rose (Rosa arvensis)
• Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’
• Rosa ‘Peace’
• Rosa ‘Constance Spry’

The stamp issue coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of David C.H. Austin OBE, whose work transformed modern rose breeding and helped reintroduce fragrance, beauty and romance to contemporary gardens.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Roses are a familiar part of many British gardens, as well as holding a special place in British culture and heritage. These beautiful stamps bring together art and horticulture through original illustrations of ten distinctive roses, each carefully interpreted to capture its unique character.”

Royal Mail worked with horticultural historian Jennifer Potter on the stamp issue.

Roses
All roses trace their ancestry back to wild roses native to the northern hemisphere, which typically bear single, five-petalled flowers, such as the dog rose and the field rose found in the UK.

Garden varieties emerged gradually over centuries, first through natural mutations and later through deliberate breeding. Old European roses such as gallicas, albas, damasks and centifolias, including Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’ and Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’, are celebrated for their rich scent and early summer flowering.

From the 18th century onwards, Chinese roses introduced repeat flowering, transforming rose breeding and leading to the modern hybrid tea roses that remain popular today. Notable varieties include ‘Étoile de Hollande’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Just Joey’.

In 1961, David C.H. Austin introduced ‘Constance Spry’, launching what became known as English Roses, combining the beauty and fragrance of old roses with the flowering performance of modern types.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available on general sale now at www.royalmail.com/roses and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £13.75.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates Finale of Global Hit Series Stranger Things

Issue date: 13 January

• The main set of 10 stamps depict key characters across the series
• The stamps were exclusively created by British artist, Kyle Lambert – the illustrator who creates posters for each season of Stranger Things
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/strangerthings and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has issued a set of 14 stamps to celebrate the critically acclaimed science-fiction series from Netflix, Stranger Things.

The 10 stamps in the main set show key characters from across the series. Five stamps represent the characters in the Rightside Up – the ‘real’ world – with a red background, and five represent the alternate dimension with a blue background, known as the ‘Upside Down’. Each vertical pair of the stamps represents a season, beginning with the two left-hand stamps from season one.

When shining a UV light over the stamps, iconic logos from the series appear:In addition, the font used for the ‘1ST’ value of the stamps replicates the typeface used for the series.

The four stamps in the miniature sheet consists of an illustration showing the four friends riding their iconic 80s bikes.

Royal Mail worked with British artist Kyle Lambert, the illustrator who creates posters for each season of Stranger Things, to design bespoke illustrations for the stamp issue. He has created iconic illustrated posters for all five seasons of the series, and his artwork has been featured on billboards, merchandise, comic books and global advertising campaigns making him a major visual storyteller for the franchise.

Set in the 1980s, the series centres around the residents of the fictional small town of Hawkins, Indiana, who are plagued by a hostile alternate dimension known as the Upside Down.

Since the series was first released on Netflix in July 2016, it has attracted a record viewership and a global fanbase, winning numerous awards across the entertainment industry. Praised for its characterisation, atmosphere, writing, soundtrack and acting – with an ensemble cast including British actors in leading roles – the fifth and final series launched on 27 November 2025 and concluded on New Year’s Day, available only on Netflix.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate Stranger Things with this striking stamp collection. Each design captures the essence of the series – from its unforgettable characters to the eerie imagery that has gripped audiences worldwide – making this a true tribute to one of modern television’s most popular shows.”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/strangerthings and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 14 stamps is priced at £24.70. The stamps go on general sale from 13 January.