Royal Mail is commemorating the King’s Coronation with four new stamps

Royal Mail is marking the Coronation with a set of four new stamps, each approved by King Charles III, which have been unveiled in time for the Coronation.

The four stamps depict the King being crowned and celebrate the Commonwealth, Britain’s multi-faith society and biodiversity, a cause close to Charles’ heart. 

The set is based on newly-commissioned wood engravings by artist Andrew Davidson.

One imagines St Edward’s Crown being lowered onto Charles’ head by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the moment of the Coronation on May 6.

It comes after the first stamps featuring the King’s likeness were made available earlier this month, alongside those depicting his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

On ‘The Coronation’ stamp, the scene is printed in regal purple ink and set in front of Westminster Abbey

The Diversity and Community stamp features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist religions and Royal Mail described it as being representative of all faiths and none

Royal Mail is also applying for a special postmark to be stamped on letters in honour of the royal occasion.

It will read: ‘Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla 6 May 2023’, and run from April 28 until May 10.

On ‘The Coronation’ stamp, the scene is printed in regal purple ink and set in front of Westminster Abbey, with fireworks appearing above.

A gun salute can also be seen being fired and crowds gather to watch the ceremony and celebrate at a street party.

The 1st class stamp shows a likeness of the monarch holding the Sceptre with Dove and the Sceptre with Cross and sitting in the Coronation Chair.

The other three stamps depict Diversity and Community, The Commonwealth, and Sustainability and Biodiversity.

Charles has spent decades campaigning over climate change and the environment, is known for his commitment to promoting multi-faith tolerance, and is Head of the Commonwealth.

The £2.20 Commonwealth stamp, in red ink, imagines a Commonwealth meeting and a representation of the Commonwealth Games

On the £2.20 Sustainability and Diversity stamp, the ink is green and the engraving shows a beekeeper and a hedgelayer

The 1st class Diversity and Community stamp in blue ink features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist religions and Royal Mail described it as being representative of all faiths and none.

The background scene captures both rural and urban Britain and the varied places of worship found around the UK including a church and a mosque.

The £2.20 Commonwealth stamp, in red ink, imagines a Commonwealth meeting and depicts a representation of the Commonwealth Games.

It also shows some of the flags of the Commonwealth nations, a scene depicting trade and commerce, and a Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.

On the £2.20 Sustainability and Diversity stamp, the ink is green and the engraving shows a beekeeper and a hedgelayer.

The backdrop is a natural landscape showing sustainable farming methods and featuring renewable sources of energy such as hydroelectric power and solar panels.

A special postmark being applied for by Royal Mail will read: ‘Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla 6 May 2023’, and run from April 28 until May 10.

This is only the third time in history that Royal Mail has issued stamps to mark a coronation.

The previous two occasions were for King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail chief executive, said: ‘Royal Mail is proud to issue this set of commemorative stamps which celebrate the coronation, and some of the causes which His Majesty has championed throughout his many years of public service.

‘This is only the third time we have issued Coronation stamps and I am delighted that they mark the start of a new reign and a new chapter in our history.’

One of the first sheets of the first class definitive stamp featuring King Charles III being unveiled at the Postal Museum in London

The stamps, designed by Atelier Works, are available to view, ahead of general release at the Postal Museum in London from April 28 as part of the exhibition: The King’s Stamp – The Postal Museum.

Stamps featuring the new King first went on sale this month, however were not sold at post offices until stocks featuring his mother had been used up.

Royal Mail director of external affairs and policy David Gold said Charles had asked for existing stocks to be used, rather than destroyed. 

‘He was very clear however long it takes to clear the stock, there’s no rush… entirely in line with his well-stated principles of waste and environmentalism.’

The new stamp features Charles’s head and neck facing left, as all monarchs have done since Queen Victoria appeared on the Penny Black – the world’s first postage stamp – in 1840.