The final countdown to the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II is under way and brand new stamps have been released to mark the special anniversary.
Royal Mail have launched eight stamps commemorating the life and reign of Elizabeth II, shown to the public for the first time with just a week to go until the centenary.
The stamps feature all eras of Elizabeth’s life, starting with family photos showing her as a young princess who unexpectedly became heir to the throne at the age of ten. They also include a stamp showing her during the years of World War Two when she and her sister, Princess Margaret, broadcast on the radio to other young people in a bid to shore up spirits.
The Coronation of 1953 features on another stamp while Elizabeth II’s love of horses is shown on two of the new editions. One shows her riding in the grounds of Buckingham Palace while another features her on horseback during Trooping the Colour.
There is also a stamp featuring her Jubilees – she marked four in her lifetime, starting with her Silver in 1977 and ending with her Platinum in 2022. A poignant final image shows her in 2022, in one of the official portraits taken to mark her historic Jubilee, with another photo alongside showing her with King Charles and Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The stamps and the images on them also feature on a range of gifts and commemorative items being released by Royal Mail at the same time.
The actual centenary of the birth of Elizabeth II falls on April 21 2026. The Royal Family will come together for a number of special events marking the anniversary with Princess Anne set to officially open the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden and King Charles to lead his family in a viewing of plans for a national memorial to the late Queen.
On the anniversary itself, Buckingham Palace will throw open its doors to others celebrating their 100th birthdays as they join the Royal Family for a special reception marking 100 years since the birth of Queen Elizabeth II.
