Dear Royal Mail, Things have to change...

Royal Mail issued 16 sets in 2025; a year pack would put you back £275.00

As regular readers will see, my reviews of Royal Mail stamps often don't score very highly. And of course there are reasons for that - Royal Mail's recent stamps simply aren't as good as stamps that are being issued by other postal administrations. I'm not saying that Jersey Post, Isle of Man Stamps, La Poste or Posti get everything right but I always look forward to their next issues because I know they're going to be interesting.

But it's not just that Royal Mail stamps aren't inspiring - like many collectors I'm fed up with the way so many of Royal Mail's "special stamps" just feel like merchandise, how many issues they have each year (16 in 2025!) and how expensive they are, not to mention that most of these stamps don't go near Post Offices let alone items of mail. Unlike many other collectors I'm only 13 and I feel that Royal Mail doesn't care about people of my age, who could be the collectors and philatelists of the future. If our hobby is to survive, then something has to change. I have written a letter to Royal Mail, which I am sharing here: Dear Royal Mail,

My name is Xanthe, I am 13 years old and I write at Xanthe’s Stamp Magazine, where I review every Royal Mail issue as well as stamps from other countries, especially across Europe. I am also a stamp collector and have won awards for my presentations and exhibitions, so I hope you will take my views seriously, even though I am young.

I am writing because I feel very strongly that Royal Mail’s "special stamps" programme has lost its way.

Firstly, the number of issues each year is too much. Sixteen commemorative issues per year is outrageous. It makes it impossible for collectors—especially young ones like me—to keep up, both financially and practically. Collecting should be enjoyable, not overwhelming.

Secondly, most of these stamps (apart from Christmas) do not seem to be designed for real postal use at all. Instead, they feel like “collectibles” aimed at fans of films, TV series, or music groups. These stamps are never available in my local Post Office and I almost never see them used on actual mail. One time when I bought some stamps to send to my Grandma, the Post Office didn't think they were real because they had never seen them before. That makes them feel less like stamps and more like merchandise.

Thirdly, the design quality isn't that great. Some of the older British stamps I have are serious works of art, some of them I'd even say are works of a design genius! Today, many issues appear crowded and overly digital, like the Stranger Things set. They lack elegance and no longer feel creative.

Fourthly, the choice of themes is disappointing. When I look at stamps from European countries, I see thoughtful celebrations of local history, culture, science and national identity. In contrast, many recent Royal Mail issues feel like bright, flashy labels designed to appeal to fans of popular culture rather than to represent Britain’s heritage in a meaningful way. When I saw your "special stamps" schedule at the beginning of the year my initial reaction was "disappointing" as I felt it was boring and unadventurous. Surely you can do better?

Finally, the cost is a barrier for me. A typical Royal Mail issue—ten First Class stamps plus a miniature sheet—can cost £23.80 plus postage. A year pack costs £275.00. For a young collector, that is simply too expensive. What else can I buy for that price? When I compare this with issues from countries like France or Malta, where stamps are more affordable, more creative, and often more culturally relevant, it is easy to see why I am more likely to spend my money with La Poste or MaltaPost than with Royal Mail. I don't buy your stamps because I can't afford them and I don't even look forward to reviewing them because they don't interest me in the way other stamps do. I think it's quite sad.

I believe Royal Mail has forgotten the needs of genuine philatelists. and is ignoring young collectors. This risks the future of our great hobby.

Stamp collecting should inspire curiosity, creativity and a love of history and design. I hope Royal Mail will reconsider its approach so that collectors like me can feel excited about British stamps again.

Yours sincerely,

Xanthe

Xanthe’s Stamp Magazine I will keep you updated of any response that I receive.