Guernsey Post’s philatelic bureau is delighted to announce that it will release six Alderney issue stamps, along with a single Guernsey definitive stamp, which celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. The stamps depict images of His Majesty’s Coronation, which took place on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey (stamp issue date: 4 October 2023).
Commemorative stamps
The Local Letter stamp depicts an image of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as they travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach in their procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation took place.
On the Local Large stamp, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, places the St Edward's Crown onto the head of King Charles III during the Coronation ceremony inside Westminster Abbey - the first and only time that His Majesty wore this particular crown.
The solid gold St Edward’s Crown, which also features on the UK Letter stamp, is the crown used at the moment of Coronation. It was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649.
The Imperial State Crown is set with 2,868 diamonds and includes St Edward's Sapphire, which is thought to have been worn in a ring by Edward the Confessor. It is worn by the monarch to leave Westminster Abbey after the Coronation ceremony, as seen on the EUR Letter stamp.
The UK Large stamp depicts the newly crowned King and Queen Camilla departing in the Gold State Coach in a magnificent procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
A joyful image of King Charles III waving to the crowds following his Coronation Ceremony in Westminster Abbey features on the ROW Letter stamp.
The Guernsey-issue definitive stamp (£10.00 value) depicts an image taken of His Majesty following the Coronation ceremony, when The King and The Queen Consort were joined by members of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to view the military Flypast and conclude the day’s ceremonial events.
Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: - “We are proud and delighted to mark the Coronation of King Charles III with our Bailiwick stamps depicting some of the key moments from this historic occasion - the first Coronation service in almost 70 years.”