ROYAL BIRTHDAY PARADE MARCHES ONTO SPECIAL STAMPS

Royal Mail salutes the pageantry and splendour of the Trooping the Colour parade on six new stamps issued tomorrow (Tuesday 7 June).

The stamps feature images of Her Majesty, Prince Philip, and highly detailed photographs of troops from within the Household Division.

Although Her Majesty’s actual birthday is 21 April, the Trooping of the Colour has traditionally been held in June, in what has become the Sovereign’s "official" birthday. A total of 800 guardsmen, 205 musicians, 118 troopers, 51 mounted musicians and 169 horses take part in this annual event.

And as part of this year’s celebrations for the Queen’s official birthday, HRH Prince Philip, in his capacity as Senior Colonel of the Household Division, has written the editorial for a special Presentation Pack which accompanies the stamps.

Royal Mail’s Head of Special Stamps Julietta Edgar, said: "Royal stamp issues have played a major role in the 81-year history of commemorative stamps and continue to be extremely popular with people across the UK and around the world.

"Trooping the Colour clearly means a great deal to the Queen and fittingly, it is Her Majesty, taking the salute on the 1st Class stamp, which will be seen by millions of people every day.

"We are also especially honoured that Prince Philip agreed to add his considerable knowledge and experience of this wonderful occasion in our Presentation Pack."

All UK stamps must include the Queen’s image which is usually shown in the form of a silhouette. But where the Monarch is shown on the stamp - as is in the case on three of the stamps - the silhouette is not necessary.