UK’s Royal Mail unveils first King Charles stamps
Britain’s Royal Mail on Wednesday unveiled the first postage stamps to feature the image of King Charles III, following his ascension to the throne last September.
The so-called “definitive stamp,” which only features the monarch’s head, the stamp’s value, and a barcode, will go on general sale on April 4. It is intended for everyday use.
The official effigy that appears on new UK coins following Charles’s succession to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, served as the inspiration for the image, which Charles himself approved.
After reigning for a record-breaking 70 years, Elizabeth passed away on September 8.
Until Royal Mail runs out of stamps, retailers will be able to keep selling the ones they already have featuring the late queen.
In the 1960s, British artist Arnold Machin made an effigy of the queen for decimal coinage. Later, he made definitive stamps with her image, which became a worldwide symbol of the UK.
Since Queen Victoria’s “Penny Black” was issued as the world’s first postage stamp in 1840, all British monarchs have been depicted on stamps facing left. The new design features Charles facing that direction.
Charles is a reworked version of a portrait by British sculptor Martin Jennings that was made for new UK coins that are already in circulation by The Royal Mint.
Simon Thompson, CEO of Royal Mail, stated that British stamps are unique in that they do not have the country of origin printed on them because “the image of the monarch is sufficient.”
