Beautiful Australian Queen's Birthday Stamps

Australia Post is celebrating the 88th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II with the release of one domestic base-rate (70c) stamp and one international rate ($2.60) stamp.

"This royal milestone is being celebrated with two stamps using images of Her Majesty taken over recent years. We trust this stamp issue will be popular with collectors and followers of royal events," said Australia Post Philatelic Manager, Michael Zsolt.

In 1952, at the age of 25, Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth became Queen of Australia.

Following tradition, the official Monarch's birthday is celebrated every year in June, with the exception of Western Australia where it occurs in late September or early October. To honour the Queen's birthday in Australia an annual Trooping the Colour is held at the Royal Military College at Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory.

The image of the Queen used on the 70 cent stamp was taken while she was viewing a parade in the West Midlands as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom in 2012. The photographer is Christopher Furlong of Getty Images.

Horse racing is one of the Queen's abiding pleasures and the photograph by Stuart Wilson used in the $2.60 cent stamp shows her at Royal Ascot in 2013.

The miniature sheet also features an image of the Queen whilst visiting Hereford Cathedral as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. The photographer is Chris Jackson from Getty Images.

The Queen's Birthday stamps and associated products are available from 8th April 2014 at participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.