Royal Mail visit took place on the first day of anniversary events to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s own 90th birthday.
Royal Mail today revealed a new name for the Windsor Delivery Office to commemorate the visit by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. From today, the office will be known as The Queen Elizabeth Delivery Office.
The new name was unveiled during the Royal visit to mark Royal Mail’s celebrations of 500 years of the postal service, and comes on the eve of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were accompanied on a tour of the office by Royal Mail’s Chief Executive Moya Greene, Chairman Peter Long and Delivery Office Manager Andrew Roeton.
They were greeted by a crowd of wellwishers made up of long-serving employees; postmen and women who have fundraised for charity or have gone the extra mile to help people in their communities; Royal Mail graduates and apprentices; and representatives of some of the charities with whom Royal Mail works. As the Royal party arrived, the Royal Mail choirs sang “Please Mr Postman.”
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh also spoke to people who work in the office, including some who have served the community for many years. At the end of their visit, the Royal party saw a timeline highlighting key events in the postal service’s 500 year history and an exhibition showcasing the 50 years of Royal Mail Special Stamps.
Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday stamps
During the visit, the Queen had an opportunity to see, for the first time, the printed versions of a Royal Mail Special Stamp issue celebrating her landmark birthday. As with all stamp issues, The Queen personally approved the design of these stamps before they were printed. The stamps go on sale to the public on the day of her 90th birthday, 21 April 2016.
Her Majesty was presented with the first in a limited numbered edition of 90 framed sets that bring together stamps issued to mark significant achievements of The Queen over the years. The Queen was also presented with a birthday gift of a sterling silver hallmarked fountain pen from Royal Mail.
Her Majesty was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Bob Hartley – currently Royal Mail’s longest serving employee – having served 53 years and five months.
Postman Bob Hartley said: “My own family’s connections with Royal Mail date back three generations as both my father and grandfather also worked for the business. That’s a total of over 100 years’ service. I also met my partner at Royal Mail so you could say it’s in my blood! I was therefore very proud to be chosen to present The Queen with a bouquet on this historic occasion.”
As the Royal party left the delivery office, the Royal Mail choirs rounded off the visit with a special rendition of Happy Birthday to Her Majesty in a four-part harmony.
“We are honoured and extremely proud that Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited The Queen Elizabeth Delivery Office to celebrate 500 years of the postal service. Royal Mail is incredibly proud of its Royal associations,” said Moya Greene, Royal Mail’s Chief Executive.
Royal Mail was a winner at the 2015 World Branding Awards.
Main Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
