What is Royal Mail?
Royal Mail is the postal service of the United Kingdom, delivering letters and parcels to homes and businesses. Its history dates back to 1516, when King Henry VIII established a royal postal system.
The service was first opened to the public in 1635, during the reign of King Charles I. Over the centuries, it became the national postal service.
In 1840, Royal Mail introduced the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, with a portrait of Queen Victoria. The stamp transformed postal services worldwide.
Postboxes and stamps
Royal Mail's red postboxes are a familiar sight across the UK. Many carry the initials of the monarch who reigned when they were installed, such as VR for Queen Victoria and EIIR for Queen Elizabeth II.
British stamps are unusual because they do not show the country's name. Instead, they feature the monarch's head.
Royal Mail was privatized in 2013 and is now owned by a private company, International Distributions Services, which was bought by Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group in 2025. Royal Mail delivers to more than 30 million addresses across the UK.