Royal Mail’s Christmas Stamps: A Comeback That Never Happened

Royal Mail's Christmas stamps for 2026 have been unveiled. I'm not going to review them yet because I leave that until December when I review the Christmas stamps from various countries together.

However, I want to write something because of the reactions to these stamps and because I feel that Royal's Mail's choice of design is influenced by the fact it anticipates these kinds of reactions.

What do I mean? Well, let's take a look at some of these.

These are just a tiny number of similar posts. You'd think that this year's Christmas stamps were revolutionary, or at least marking some kind of "comeback" for tradition and "putting Christ at the heart of Christmas". What is obvious is that many people seem to think that Royal Mail has rejected traditional stamps for years and this is somehow a "return" to a different time. This is despite evidence that the very opposite is true, which a simple Google search could confirm.

I think some people are surprised because they keep hearing that Christianity is being pushed out of public life. If you already believe that, seeing Christian Christmas stamps might seem unusual, even though Royal Mail has been making them for years.

It also fits into culture war arguments about Britain “losing its traditions”. People might share posts about the stamps without checking previous designs, which makes something normal seem like a big comeback. But some people probably just haven’t paid much attention to stamps before and they just make assumptions.

Royal Mail knows this, of course - which is why it keep returning to the same kind of design. There is no other logical explanation for more of the same.

As I discussed last year, there was a time when Royal Mail alternated between religious and secular. But now it knows even one picture of a snowman is going to lead to the usual complaints about "erasing Christianity" or dropping British traditions and so Royal Mail sticks to what is safe and makes conservative choices. (There have been some complaints about the skin colour of the figures on this year's stamps and the supposed hidden meaning of a white crescent moon on a green background, but I'm not going to get into that.)

As a result recent issues, aside from the 2024 Cathedrals issue, feel very similar. None really stand out. Take a look at last year's set. Is it really so different to this year's offering?

There was of course the fantastic Cathedrals set I've already mentioned in 2024.

In 2023 we had this, showing scenes from the Christmas story along with lines from famous Christmas carols.

In 2022 there was another design which was, well, not that much different in style to this year's (and last year's).

Looking back to 2021, we had this.

In 2020 we had... yes, more Nativity scenes. This time from stained-glass windows.

Anyone want to take a stab at guessing what was on the 2019 stamps? Snowmen? Santa Claus? Carol singers? Christmas decorations? Close, but try again. It was of course... Nativity scenes.

In fact, despite the narrative that Royal Mail is constantly sidelining the religious meaning of Christmas, there hasn't been a secular issue since 2018. That was, of course, the set that showed postboxes in the snow.

I have no problem with religious-themed Christmas stamps. Or secular ones for that matter. I do have a problem with arguments that aren't based on facts but instead just make false assumptions.

I'm also not impressed when designs feel so similar to each other - the 2026, 2025 and 2022 issues are of a very similar style - but I will leave that until the review.

For now, let's please stop this nonsense about Royal Mail being anti-Christian. The facts don't support this ridiculous myth. This isn't a "comeback" as nothing went away... apart from perhaps robins, snowmen, Santa Claus, carol singers, Christmas pudding, decorations or reindeer. Some of us might want to know why Royal Mail has become so opposed to celebrating secular Christmas traditions, which are every bit as British (perhaps more so) than the birth stories from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. But let's stop pretending that a nativity scene on a Royal Mail Christmas stamp is surprising.

Of course, those of you who like traditional stamps but also want something a bit different should get behind my campaign - Operation Carol - to urge Royal Mail to dedicate its 2030 issue to celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the first ever Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Truro Cathedral. Add your name to the petition!