The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 6 May 2023 and Royal Mail will issue a miniature sheet of 4 stamps to commemorate this historical event.
Since ancient times, different civilisations all over the world have honoured new leaders or rulers with a strikingly similar ritual, incorporating a religious dimension, some sort of throne and a crown. That has certainly been the model for every English, Scottish and, latterly, British coronation.
The monarchy can be regarded as the nation’s ultimate symbol of continuity and stability. As is traditional, the service for
King Charles III’s coronation will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. It will also cement the King's role as Head of the Church of England, somewhat ironic when recent census results show fewer people regard themselves as Christian.
Controversially, the design approach considers the day itself only briefly with the Coronation event depicted on the first stamp of the set. The other three stamps are intended to look beyond the day to “A New Reign” and the New Carolean era, with a look at three aspects personal to King Charles III.
The four stamp designs and miniature sheet background feature newly commissioned wood engravings by British artist Andrew Davidson. The Miniature Sheet background depicts intermingling foliage, symbolic of the four countries of the UK: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock.
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| Miniature Sheet of 4 stamps marking the New Reign of His Majesty King Charles III issued 6 May 2023. |
1st class - THE CORONATION - Represents the Monarchy, continuity, longevity, heritage, and tradition
1st Class: DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY - Reflects a multi-faith community, cohesion, and the people of modern Britain.
The stamp design features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths in the foreground. It is representative of all faiths and none. The setting features aspects of both rural and urban Britain in the background, and includes religious buildings representing these six faiths from different regions of the UK.
£2.20: THE COMMONWEALTH - Depicts an outward looking Britain, global trade, co- operation, democracy, and peace
£2.20 SUSTAINABILITY AND BIODIVERSITY - Highlights the importance of conservation, biodiversity and a society that works with nature.
The stamp design depicts a juxtaposition of natural landscapes and sustainable farming methods and features renewable sources of energy such as hydro-electric power, solar panels, and electric trains. Wildlife conservation is referenced with the inclusion of diverse forests, wildflower meadows, insects, and pollination. Traditional crafts such as hedge-laying and beekeeping are also depicted.
Technical details
These designs would obviously be best reproduced in gravure/recess but the work is in lithography by Cartor Security Printers, design by Atelier Works. The sheet is 115 mm x 89 mm with stamps 35 mm square. The sheet is printed on conventionally gummed paper.
None of the stamps is being issued as a single in a counter sheet, although reproducing the Coronation stamp by itself in this way would be an ideal way for the ordinary social user to use the stamps on inland mail, and two of them would make the 100 g Airmail rate worldwide. An opportunity missed.
Other products
Presentation Pack, First Day Cover, Postcards, Collector Sheet, Press Sheet of 16 miniature sheets (price £105.60), Framed sheet (£29.99), coin covers, the cheapest being £19.99 - these will not be available until 15 May.
Collector Sheet - the sheet contains two sets of stamps with four different labels. It is self-adhesive, making the stamps different to those in the miniature sheet. The price is £14.40 (ie 9% more than the face value of the stamps).
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| King Charles III - A New Reign - self-adhesive collectors sheet |
UPDATE 9 May - I'm told that this sheet will not be at Tallents House until 12 May. Customers will probably see them next week.
First Day Covers sent to Handstamp Centres after the Coronation weekend will be postmarked as usual with the requested 6 May handstamp. The May Postmark Bulletin has been produced in email form, and should be published next week.
In the past there have been problems obtaining blank first day covers from Post Office branches after the day of issue - they are normally on sale for a week before the day of issue, but should in this case be available afterwards.
The May Postmark Bulletin is now online here.
