Royal stamp of approval
2005-03-09 21:29
London - The British government on Wednesday unveiled two stamps to commemorate the wedding next month of Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and Camilla Parker Bowles.
The couple are pictured in an informal and relaxed mood on a first-class 30 pence stamp and in a more formal pose on a 68 pence stamp, the most popular price for posting a letter overseas.
Both will go on sale on April 8, the date of the wedding at Windsor town hall, west of London. It is also one day after first-class stamp prices rose from 28 pence to 30 pence.
The couple helped choose the photographs, which were then approved by Queen Elizabeth II, the prince's mother.
Royal Mail's head of special stamps Julietta Edgar said: "A royal wedding is always a very special occasion and for decades Royal Mail has marked these important events with commemorative stamps.
"These stamps have long been recognised as one of the most prestigious, popular and enduring ways of marking such moments in our lives and I'm sure these delightfully informal images will have the same worldwide appeal."
The photograph for the 30 pence stamp was taken at the Mey Games in Scotland last year, while the other was taken at the Queen's Balmoral estate in Scotland.
The Royal Mail said it expected strong demand for the stamps, which will be on sale for a month.
The last set of royal-issue stamps was brought out to mark Prince William's 21st birthday in 2003.
Charles's 1981 wedding to Lady Diana Spencer was also commemorated with a special set of stamps.