Australia Post is marking the christening of Prince George of Cambridge with the release of one domestic base-rate (60c) stamp and one international rate ($2.60) stamp.
The Royal Christening stamp issue is available from 7 January 2014 at participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps. Australia Post is to be congratulated on these beautiful products which, we understand, are a limited edition. For other products see the last paragraph below.
…Royal Christening….
Four generations of the Royal Family attended the christening of His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge in a ceremony performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in October 2013. Prince George was christened in the silver-gilt Lily Font which was made in 1840 for Queen Victoria’s first child, Princess Victoria and wore the replica of the 172-year old Royal Christening Robe. Water from the Jordan River, where Christ was baptised by John the Baptist was used and two anthems were performed by the choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal.
Guests included George’s great parents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, his grandfather the Prince of Wales, his uncle Prince Harry, and the immediate family of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Among the seven god-parents were Zara Tindall, a cousin to the Duke of Cambridge, and personal friends, including those of the Duke’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
…Photography…
A series of official photographs was taken after the ceremony by photographer Jason Bell, one of which is used for the stamp design. Taken in the Morning Room of Clarence House, another photo shows the three future kings of the United Kingdom, together with the current monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. There have already been six monarchs named George – the last being the Queen's father, George VI. Prince George will be third in line to the throne after Prince Charles and Prince William.
The designer of the stamps is Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio. The stamps feature an official photograph by Jason Bell/Camera Press London.
….products…
There are two beautiful special products associated with this stamp issue – a prestige postal and numismatic cover (PNC) featuring a Royal Mint (United Kingdom) five pound coin. This product is a limited edition to 2,000.
The other PNC features a Royal Australian Mint 50 cent coin. Other associated products available are a miniature sheet, first day cover, stamp pack, set of two maxicards, sheetlet of five $2.60 self-adhesive stamps and a booklet of 10 x 60c self-adhesive stamps.