Queen's Birthday stamps 2018

Today, four days ahead of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's birthday Australia Post released the 2018 set of stamps.

The Australian Queen's Birthday postage stamps mark the 92nd birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with two designs that feature a floral theme.

On the domestic-rate stamp, the Queen is pictured during her 90th birthday celebrations in April 2016. The Queen was photographed arriving to open the Alexandra Gardens Bandstand, in Windsor, as part of a day of visits with Prince Philip. On the international-rate stamp, the Queen is attending a 2015 service to mark Commonwealth Day – the celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The domestic stamp also features a close-up photograph of the 'Queen Elizabeth’ (also known as ‘Queen of England’) – a tall grandiflora rose introduced in 1954. The Queen Elizabeth rose was named to recognise the Queen’s ascension to the British throne in 1952 and subsequent coronation in 1953.

Australia Post celebrates the birth of Princess Charlotte

HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge stamp and Royal Australian Mint coin.

Australia Post is celebrating the recent birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with today's release of a domestic base rate (70c) stamp that features an image of the Royal couple leaving St Mary’s Hospital Paddington with their newborn daughter.

Australia Post Managing Director and Group CEO, Ahmed Fahour said: “Australia Post is delighted to celebrate the birth of a baby girl to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with a sheetlet of stamps that captures the first public appearance of the happy family.”

“We expect the stamp will be well received as was the royal birth of Prince George stamp in 2013.”

Princess Charlotte was born on 2nd May 2015 at 8.34am BST and introduced to the world the same day on the steps of the hospital, in the arms of her proud parents. Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge will be fourth in line to the throne after Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.

The sons of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – Charles, Andrew and Edward – were born at Buckingham Palace, while Princess Anne was born at Clarence House. Today, the preferred birthing facility used by the Royal Family is the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. The baby’s father Prince William was born there, as was her uncle, Prince Harry and brother, Prince George.

A notice of the birth was attached to an ornate easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, with the media officially informed. There were royal gun salutes across London heralding the new arrival.

The Princess Charlotte stamps (at 70 p.) are for internal use in Australia. Stamp collectors abroad cannot expect to receive them, The rate for international letters from Australia is $2.75.

Princess Charlotte was christened on 5 July at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The designer of the stamp is Jo Muré of the Australia Post Design Studio. The products associated with this stamp issue are a first day cover, sheetlet pack, maxi card, two postal and numismatic covers (one featuring a Royal Australian Mint coin and one featuring a Perth Mint coin), sheetlet of 10 x 70c stamps and a booklet of 10 x 70c self- adhesive stamps.

The Birth of a Princess stamp issue is available from 25th August 2015 at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at www.auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.

Princess Charlotte stamp on a maxi card, which are sold at $3.60.

Queen's Birthday 2015

While the Queen's grandson, Prince Harry, touched down in Australia and will start serving with the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) from today onwards, this year's Queen's Birthday stamps have been issued.

This year marks the 89th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II and Australia Post celebrates this royal milestone with the release of two stamps depicting the Queen at recent official engagements.

Australia Post Philatelic Manager, Michael Zsolt said: “Australia Post has issued Queen’s birthday stamps since 1980 following a tradition that resonates with many Australians. We trust this stamp issue will be popular with collectors and followers of royal events.”

The 70 cent stamp shows Her Majesty on the occasion of her visit to the Ebony Horse Club and Community Riding Centre in Brixton in October 2013.

The $2.75 stamp depicts the Queen at Windsor Castle in April 2014, when Her Majesty met Irish President Michael D Higgins on his historic first-ever state visit to Britain by a Republic of Ireland’s head of state.

A feature product associated with the Queen’s Birthday stamp issue is a prestige booklet showcasing selected hats from the Queen’s royal hat collection. The Queen’s Hats prestige booklet will be of great interest to collectors, those interested in all things royal and of course to milliners of all ages.

A sheetlet of five $2.75 self-adhesive stamps

Other products associated with this stamp issue include a miniature sheet, first day cover, stamp pack, sheetlet of five $2.75 self-adhesive stamps and a set of two maxicards.

The Queen’s Birthday stamps and associated products are available from 7 April 2015 at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.

Australia Post honours King George V with new stamps

The Centenary of King George V mini sheet first day cover.

Australia Post is marking the centenary of King George V stamps with the release of four domestic base-rate (70c) stamps. These new stamps are modified designs of the original 1914 stamps.

"This issue of George V-based designs marks an important era in Australian stamp production. The stamp issue also brings a new and exciting philatelic product to the range which we trust will spark interest amongst collectors," said Australia Post Philatelic Manager, Mr Michael Zsolt.

A century ago, Australia's stamp designs were political topics and there was much public discussion about their designs. Postmaster-General, Charles Frazer, had developed the Kangaroo and Map design as 'an effective advertisement' for Australia. However, the absence of the traditional British monarch was believed by conservatives to be an insulting slight to Britain. Consequently, in mid-1913 plans were made to scrap the kangaroo in favour of stamps featuring the Australian monarch, King George V.

The incoming Postmaster-General, Agar Wynne was quoted in the press as saying the George V design "would make a very good stamp, being emblematic of Australia, and also of our loyalty to the empire".

For nearly a quarter of a century the King George V design served for the basic letter postage stamp, and for many commonly used postal rates. During this period, a total of 11.8 billion King George V stamps were issued.

On 20 January 1936, King George V died and eventually new stamps featuring King George VI were developed.

The designer of the Centenary of King George V Stamps is John White of the Australia Post Design Studio.

In a first for Australia Post, this stamp issue includes a specimen pack in a new format. This collectable item uses a fold out design and houses four 10 x 70c sheetlets and one multicolour 10 x 70c sheetlet featuring a "specimen" overprint on four of the stamps.

Also available is a stamp coin - a legal tender coin in the shape of a stamp - with a limited edition of only 2,500. The stamp coin comes with a certificate of authenticity and is housed in a quality presentation box.

Other products associated with this stamp issue include a miniature sheet, first day cover, maxicards, prestige booklet, sheetlet pack, stamp pack, booklet of 10 x 70c self-adhesive stamps and a medallion cover.

The Centenary of King George V Stamps issue is available from 17th June 2014 at participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.

The Centenary of King George V Stamp 70c sheetlets.

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.