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Royal Mail has released its last posting dates for Christmas 2021 – warning of potential delays caused by a number of factors including Covid-19 restrictions.
With the UK subject to covid restrictions last year meaning people could not visit their family and friends and drop off gifts, more packages were delivered by post than usual.
And while there is no lockdown currently in the UK, coronavirus is still having an impact.
Read the latest Christmas stories
Royal Mail said: “Ongoing covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe.”
“Allow plenty of time for posting. Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.”
Here are the last posting dates for Christmas 2021 from Royal Mail:
Saturday, December 18 – 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail 48
Tuesday, December 21 – 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24, Royal Mail Tracked 48
Wednesday, December 22 – Royal Mail Tracked 24
Thursday, December 23 – Special Delivery Guaranteed
Royal Mail International Economy
Friday, November 26 – Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey
Monday, November 29 – Western Europe
Last posting dates for international economy to other destinations have already gone.
Royal Mail International Standard, International tracking and signature services
Wednesday, December 1 – Caribbean
Monday, December 6 – Australia Greece, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal
Wednesday, December 8 – Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Far and Middle East
Friday, December 10 – Cyprus, Malta and Sweden
Saturday, December 11 – Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia), Turkey
Monday, December 13 – Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland and USA
Thursday, December 16 – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
Royal Mail International HM Forces Mail
Monday, November 29 – Airmail to Operational HM Forces
Monday, December 6 – Airmail to Static HM Forces
Parcelforce
Parcelforce has also given out advice for people to send packages early due to delays and disruption.
It explained: “We are expecting unprecedented volumes over the Christmas period, please try to send your parcels as early as possible to ensure they arrive in time for Christmas.
“We are still experiencing delays due to increased pressure on airline capacity and additional local measures to help prevent Covid-19 spreading – all of which impact on delivery times and result in additional delays to many overseas destinations. We are also experiencing disruption to parts of Europe due to customs delays.
“Therefore, we strongly advise that you should allow an additional two to three days onto our last posting dates to Europe and allow an additional week for rest of the world destinations.”
For delivery by Christmas Day in the UK, the last posting dates are:
Parcelforce Worldwide Global Express
Thursday, December 16 to Monday, December 20 – Europe
Monday, December 20 – USA and Canada
Friday, December 3 to Monday, December 20 – Rest of world
