Royal Mail releases final dates for Christmas 2019 post

Royal Mail is advising its customers to ‘beat the festive rush’ and get letters and parcels sent before the final posting dates.

Christmas time at Royal Mail is sure to be the busiest time of the year, and the company wants to make sure all festive cards and letters are delivered on time.

The postal company has released a list of deadlines for last-minute post during the festive period.

Here is a list of the final dates to send post:

• For 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed for, the deadline is Wednesday 18 December

• For 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 48, the deadline is Friday 20 December

• For Royal Mail Tracked 24, the deadline is Saturday 21 December

• For Special Delivery Guaranteed, the deadline is Monday 23 December

Customers should note that Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 services are not available to purchase at Post Office branches.

The news of the dates comes as Royal Mail’s bid to stop a strike reaches the High Court.

The company is taking action after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) planned walkouts in the run-up to Christmas.

Announcing the legal challenge in a statement released last week, Royal Mail said: “The company is making this High Court application because the integrity and legal soundness of any electoral process is vital.

“This is particularly the case in relation to potential industrial action around the General Election on December 12 2019. Royal Mail is also making this application because of the damage industrial action would do to the company and its customers in the run-up to Christmas.”