Description
UK stamps will feature the King's image for the first time from today, but the Queen's image will remain on our publication for some time. The image of Charles, adapted by design artist Martin Jennings for use on Royal Mint coins, will appear on all new exhibition package stamps for sale. But the new stamps won't be sold at post offices and other retailers until their mother's image runs out of stock.
Royal Mail policy and external affairs director David Gold said Charles had called for existing stocks to be used rather than destroyed.
Mr Gold said: "The King gave very clear instructions, he didn't want anything shredded, he didn't want things shredded, he didn't want stock thrown away."
"He was very clear, no matter how long it takes to liquidate the stock, there is no rush...very much in line with his well-established principles of waste and environmentalism."
The new stamp features Charles's head and neck facing left, as every monarch has done since Queen Victoria appeared on the Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, in 1840.
Gold said: “The advice we received from Her Majesty was more about continuity and not doing anything too different from what had gone before.
"I think there's a recognition that for 70 years people have been so used to seeing the image of Her Majesty, even through the current image that started in 1967, that they didn't want anything too different."
Continuity means that the colors of the stamps are maintained: plum violet for the first class, holly green for the second class, navy blue turquoise for the large first class, and dark fir green for the large second class.
The new first-class stamp is part of an exhibition at London's Postal Museum that runs until September 23.
The first stamps featuring Charles' silhouette went on sale in March in a collecting corner celebrating the nation's favorite flowers.
His mother's figure had appeared on special issue stamps since 1966.
The final set bearing his likeness was unveiled in February in a set of stamps marking the 100th anniversary of The Flying Scotsman steam locomotive.
The change in images comes a day after a rise in stamp prices: first class up 15p to £1.10 and second class up 7p to 75p.
Royal Mail said the increase was necessary to continue its universal single-price service.
Commercial Director Nick Landon said: “We appreciate that many businesses and households are facing a difficult economic environment and we are committed to keeping our prices affordable.
“Letters are down 25% compared to the pre-pandemic period.
"We must carefully balance our pricing with a continued decline in letter volume and the rising costs of delivering letters six days a week to an increasing number of addresses across the country."
PA wire
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