G.S.M. June 2012 has been run by a by run been has Britannia Mail entering Royal residences continues continues residences Royal entering Mail to access have employees Household Royal The Royal Mews has responsibility for The The for responsibility has Mews Royal The Handstamps used today are made of a of made are today used Handstamps up full-time residency in Kensington Palace. Palace. Kensington in residency full-time up cancelled are envelopes mail outgoing Their franking Palace Buckingham the with which office, London their at when machine from separated when identified readily be can (William) ‘W’ a of use the to due contents the flap. envelope the on (Catherine) ‘C’ a or a with envelopes uses still also Duke The from working when it on ‘H’ an and ‘W’ brother his with shares he that office the Harry. Prince at screened security previously been have to appropriately by and locations appropriate consistent a to adhering personnel, trained 11 the following introduced policy national 2001. of tragedy September Buckingham at Door Side the by postbox a for Castle Windsor at boxes three and Palace mail. personal move the on offices Servicesfor Yacht HM charitable trust since it docked at Leith, Leith, at docked it since trust charitable Royal has longer no and 1998 in Edinburgh Flight Queen’s The Similarly, associations. its following markings any uses longer no Train Royal The Northolt. RAF to relocation to markings special any utilised never has being simply mail with origin, its indicate town. arrival its at posted horse- and motor private and state Queen’s Master The and carriages and vehicles drawn cachet, certifying a use to used Horse the of Buckingham the receives now mail such but to as indication no with marking meter Palace origin. of department Postal markings Postal changes major seen have years few past The residence each at cancelled is mail the how in and described adequately been has this and 2). Ref and 1 (Ref previously illustrated markings the describes instead section This mail Household Royal on seen be may that of listing simplified a is It 2012. of as subtle illustrate not does it that in types necessarily it does nor markings, to changes from marking of type basic same the depict residence. every have invariably so and composition rubber whenever replaced be will and life limited a major or minor no, in resulting necessary, new the of appearance the to changes dials rotating incorporate They cancellation. to year and month day, the enabling within, An interim mail van service is used from from used is service van mail interim An The role of Court Postmaster involves involves Postmaster Court of role The office post the staff also postmen The Arrangements for the the for Arrangements mail of handling residences land-based the Servicesfor from/to times all at used are vans Postal transmission the for Palace Buckingham House, Sandringham to relating mail of plus Castle, Windsor and House Highgrove St House, Clarence of residences London the Skynet Palace. Kensington and Palace James Castle Balmoral for function services air Her when Holyroodhouse of Palace the and residence. in is Majesty The for destined mail for Palace Buckingham they when Cambridge of Duchess and Duke take- they as time such until Anglesey at are cancellations by hand. hand. by cancellations incoming the plus employees, all managing Royal the from and for mail outgoing and much Households, their and members Family Elizabethan first the in done have would it as Court Deputy a was there recently Until era. is and vacant became role the but Postmaster, future. the in filled be to unlikely postmen Royal the prepare workers postal of team small A the from daily received deliveries mail two for Elms Nine at Centre Mail South London Principal, and department each to delivery collections five and to, deliveries four with There daily. tray’ ‘In/Out office each from, Nine to day per runs delivery van two are local the to or mail, London for Elms in elsewhere found be to those for office Kingdom. the no are there incidentally, where, counters in machines automation counter Horizon badge, unique a wears postman Each use. either worded being version current the below Palace Buckingham or Castle Windsor is It Mail. Royal words the with and crown, a and line red a with colour in gold primarily the of forename the including wording, black for made been ever have two Only postman. Castle. Windsor postage for Accounting Office’s Post Court the 2001, March 31 Until provided were services telegraph and postal 1 From Office. Post the by charge of free suggestion, its at Household, the 2001 April level the to revisions of result a As paid. has Royal with costs the of review a and service of made. been have savings significant Mail, Mail Household Royal

54 Royal Mail Group Ltd provides staff in the the in staff provides Ltd Group Mail Royal Household Royal the not Office, Post Court Postmaster, Court The assume. many as at based are Clerks Telegraph and Postmen Clerk Telegraph One Palace. Buckingham and drivers and Castle Windsor at based is of establishment the of part also are couriers personnel. 12 postmaster Court Baxter, David Postmaster, Court current The having 2006, in role the to appointed was Commons of House the at been previously person 29th the only is David Office. Post its since position important this hold to Gascoigne Robert when 1565 in formation By office. the of holder first the became the of much transformed had David 2008 using to class first posted being from mail offered which service, class second the the for costs in savings ongoing huge reduce to continued has He Household. Bowes Pitney the outright purchasing by costs and Palace Buckingham at machines franking every at away doing by and Castle Windsor at involve that activities all with opportunity or cachets applying Principals or departments Staffing Postal and telegraph services telegraph and Postal a provides currently Office Post Court The including: services of wide-range Buckingham at service Office Post Court A • locations Both Castle. Windsor and Palace of range a with service counter a offer delivery internal and products, office post communications. postage. All • to bringing and despatch Preparation, • mail. private and official all account accompany to services delivery and Couriers • The for despatches special all on mail the the between Wales of Prince The and Queen residences. other and palaces travelling as such services Additional • Royal the and telegrams despatches, ‘Court’ service. Card Detailed arrangements about the Court Post Post Court the about arrangements Detailed in published first were in 1992 (Ref. 1). This was later updated for for updated later was This 1). (Ref. 1992 in Post Court ‘The in 1990-2004 period the This 2). (Ref articles five of series Office’ subject the introduce to serves article present certifying and postal current record to and offices Royal the all in mail on used markings mourning cover will two Part residences. and Royal main the list and mail, celebratory and arrangements. postal their and residences The Court Post Office: Part One Part Office: Post Court The Holman John and Morgan H Glenn By Her Her Majesty is on record as having referred to the Royal and, it of like business, any quantities has incoming successful large to Family process as ‘The Firm’ and outgoing mail. In early and 2012, Baxter, David the Postmaster, Court The authors interview to Palace Buckingham were visiting given the opportunity of this is article the of result that visit. It a from gleaned also information contains previous visit made in 2004 in instances where there have been no changes to place. in arrangements the

The CourtOffice Post BRITISH STAMPS BRITISH STAMPS 55 The CourtOffice Post Photo credits: (Top left to right) Buckingham Palace - David Baron, Royal Mail van at Buckingham Buckingham at van Mail Royal Baron, David - Palace Buckingham right) to left (Top credits: Photo CodyR - Castle Windsor Vialle, Alexandre - Holyroodhouse of Palace the Morgan, Glenn - Palace Linwood Jim - House Sandringham and Used primarily on first day covers from from covers day first on primarily Used Used on first class class first on Used – First Class. Class. First – – Without Court Post Office wording. wording. Office Post Court Without – – With Court Post Office wording. wording. Office Post Court With – All handstamps may be of the SID (Self (Self SID the of be may handstamps All G.S.M. June 2012 Type 3 3 Type Royal Household staff working at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, as there there as Castle, Windsor and Palace Buckingham at working staff Household Royal only will invariably stamps postage The them. for provided services counter are struck. when ring outer the bear mail Paid’ ‘Postage Rectangular 2. mail. inland Type 2 2 Type Type 1 1 Type items, delivery special mail, general on Used Buckingham at etc, posting, of certificates Holyroodhouse and Balmoral The Palace. the from left-over probably are handstamps service. counter a provided they when days Mail from Royal residences is despatched in in despatched is residences Royal from Mail mailbag. labelled of types three of one mail Stamped 1. Principal markings on on markings Principal mail outgoing be chosen (as distinct from the old-fashioned old-fashioned the from distinct (as chosen be these and type) loose inserting of method resulting years, of number set a hold only can periodically. them replace to need the in of example an provides House Sandringham 31 on expired handstamp existing the as this, next is Majesty Her when so 2011, December handstamp new a Christmas at residence in use. in be will incorporates that type Datestamp) Inking implies, name its as pad, ink built-in own its requiring stamp rubber simple a be may or This hand. to is pad ink whatever of use the in seen are markings some why explains or blue red, as such black, than other colours handstamp current a Indeed, violet. but blue in largely struck is Holyrood for is which centre, its at date red a with Court the However, attractive. especially these on significance no places Office Post implied be any should nor changes, colour collectors. by G.S.M. June 2012 where costs need to be held in check. check. in held be to need costs where (cachets) stamps Certifying those included have stamps certifying of examples used Previously These Chamberlain. Lord and Steward Lord Purse, Privy the for few a with collectors, some with popular are markings obsolete largely in detailed fully are known types Most elusive. quite being variations 3). to 1 (Refs Type Type Used on overseas mail. overseas on Used Used on mail from specific specific from mail on Used Used Used Used on second class inland mail. inland class second on Used Used on mail responses responses mail on Used – No Class, but with Great Britain. Britain. Great with but Class, No – – Incorporating cipher, cipher, Incorporating – – Second Class. Class. Second – – Incorporating PPI section only. only. section PPI Incorporating – – Incorporating cipher, Buckingham Buckingham cipher, Incorporating – ) will probably cease over time, as they are deemed to be largely largely be to deemed are they as time, over cease probably will ) Type 5 5 Type Type 7 Type class first in Enterprises, Collection Royal as such departments, at versions seen) generally (more class second or seen) rarely (now Castle. Windsor and Palace Buckingham 3. Meter franked mail franked Meter 3. and name residence the be may centrally (crown/EIIR), cipher the be may left far At elements. three to up of consist will markings red The Jubilee Diamond the for or, pattern, standard Mail’s Royal to PPI rectangular class second or first a either bear always will right far while date, mail. appropriate on stamp postage a over lines wavy only, year These days there are only a few other markings seen on Royal Royal on seen markings other few a only are there days These markings meter (except these of most and mail, Household Other markings encountered markings Other 13 a is This world. standardised and automated today’s in unnecessary understandable totally is but view, of point collector’s a from shame business, British major a is Household Royal the that realising when Palace date and wavy lines cancelling a cancelling lines wavy and date Palace colour that of pre-launch (or blue diamond definitive class first Machin gold) stamp, stamp. postage Type 8 Type cards and letters congratulatory to subjects from 2012 during received Her on Queen The congratulating Castle Windsor A Jubilee. Diamond exist. not does element lines’ ‘wavy 56 on most mail from Buckingham Buckingham from mail most on in Castle, Windsor and Palace or seen) rarely (now class first generally (more class second versions. seen) Type 6 6 Type PPI. and name/date residence Type 4 4 Type

The CourtOffice Post BRITISH STAMPS The Court Post Office BRITISH STAMPS BRITISH

Type 9 – Royal Cipher handstamp. Occasionally still seen on mail from various offices and residences. At least one copy is held by the Court Post Office 9a( ). Examples are known with an incorrect ‘11’ between the E and R (9b)

Type 10 – Departmental Certifying Handstamp for The Royal Collection. (A similar cachet but worded ‘ROYAL COLLECTION / ENTERPRISES LTD. / [crown] / St. JAMES’S PALACE SW1A 1BQ’ was seen on an item of outgoing mail during our visit.) Type 9a Type 9b Type 10

Type 11 – Departmental Certifying Handstamp for Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd., but rarely seen these days.

Type 12 – Departmental Pre-Printed Stationery. The Lord Chamberlain at Holyroodhouse still uses this envelope with the Type 12 marking and his title at bottom left. It is thought to be the last surviving item of this type of pre-printed certifying stationery.

Type 11

Meter markings Types 13a-c – Typical currently used meter markings from outlying offices or residences. Markings from other locations may well exist, such as The Royal Studs, Sandringham, which was last seen in use during 2003.

Type 13a — Balmoral Castle

Type 13b — The Castle and Gardens of Mey

Type 13c — Sandringham House

It is hoped that this survey will assist collectors to identify items Thanks they may be unaware of and therefore are probably missing from Special thanks to David Baxter for the time that he so willingly their collections. However, it must be stated that Royal Mail and gave in answering the many questions posed, and to the Royal Royal Household members employed at Royal residences are Household for agreeing to the meeting and for its subsequent extremely busy and therefore do not respond to requests for approval of the use of the text and imagery before you. copies of any postal cachets or markings recorded here. As such a refusal to comply may offend, please consult a dealer in British postal history or ephemera if you wish to obtain such material. Look out for Part 2 of this article in the next issue.

Sources (Ref. 1) Royal Household Mail, Glenn H Morgan, 1992. Published by The British Philatelic Trust. (Ref. 2) The Court Post Office 1990-2004, Glenn H Morgan, 2004. Serialised in Royal Mail’s Philatelic Bulletin in the April to August issues of volume 41. (Ref. 3) Collect British Postmarks, 2011. Published by Stanley Gibbons. Specifically consult chapter 22, which relates to Royalty. Various snippets from newspaper reports, Freedom of Information Act requests and other sites of relevance on the internet. Photo credit: Balmoral Castle - Bert Kaufmann

G.S.M. June 2012 57