Sir Elton John set to feature on a new set of stamps to mark his 50 years in showbiz 

He has sold more than 300 million records, won an Oscar and been given a knighthood, and now Sir Elton John is to receive the ultimate stamp of approval – from the Royal Mail.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the 72-year-old singer is to feature on a new set of postage stamps to mark his 50 years in showbusiness.

Sir Elton, who responded to the award of his knighthood in 1998 by saying ‘They don’t come much bigger than this’, is said to be ‘overjoyed and honoured’ by the new accolade.

It is understood there will be a set of four stamps, each charting a different phase of his career. They will go on sale in October, coinciding with the publication of his autobiography, Me Elton John.

It is understood there will be a set of four stamps, each charting a different phase of his career (pictured: A Mail on Sunday interpretation of how the stamps commemorating Sir Elton’s career could look)

A source said: ‘To Elton, this is the most tremendous honour. He is absolutely overjoyed. He has been planning his own ways to commemorate his 50 years of producing and performing music, but to be noticed and celebrated by the Royal Mail is so special for him.

‘He has been honoured by the Queen before, but this is different, this is something so out of the ordinary.’ 

The first commemorative stamp was issued for the British Empire Exhibition in 1924, but they were rare before 1965 when Tony Benn, the then Postmaster General, issued new criteria for what could appear on stamps.  

A Mail on Sunday interpretation of how the stamps commemorating Sir Elton’s career could look

Since then, six to nine sets of commemorative stamps have been issued each year but few – apart from those celebrating members of the Royal Family or British sporting success – feature living people.

Sir Elton – a year into a three-year world tour of 300 concerts – has a long association with the Royal Family.

A friend of the late Princess Diana, he reworked his hit Candle In The Wind and performed it at her funeral in 1997. 

Last week, he defended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after it emerged they had flown by private jet to his home in the South of France just days after Prince Harry spoke of the importance of tackling climate change.