Royal Mail prepares for Christmas

billion letters and cards during the festive period.

Royal Mail predicts Monday 17 December to be its busiest day of the year. 123 million items are expected to enter the system that day compared to an average daily figure of 83 million.

The last recommended posting dates for UK mail are Thursday 20 December for 1st Class and Monday 17 December for 2nd Class items. For Special Delivery items, the last recommended posting date is 22 December. For airmail items to Western Europe, the last recommended posting date is 13 December; for Eastern Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan it is 10 December; and the rest of the world is 7 December.

Royal Mail is releasing millions of new stamps well in time for all last posting dates. Available from today (6th November) in 1st Class, 2nd Class, 78p and GBP 1.24 values, the stamps depict angels and the Madonna & Child. The angels 1st and 2nd Class Christmas stamps are available in two sizes so that people can use the angelic images on Large Letters, parcels and packets this Christmas.

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail, said: “Christmas is most certainly Royal Mail’s busiest time of year, but luckily we have plenty of experience in dealing with the postbag upsurge.

“We recommend that customers post early and include postcodes to speed up the time it takes for cards and presents to reach loved ones. This year’s special stamps are particularly beautiful and will adorn millions of the items we handle.”