Four stamps and a Miniature Sheet commemorating 50 years since the investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales are to be issued by Jersey Post on 1 July 2019. Designed by Andrew Robinson, the stamps feature photographs taken during the Prince’s investiture ceremony in 1969.
The title Prince of Wales has been granted, since the 14th century, to the heir apparent. Prince Charles is the 21st Prince of Wales and the longest serving heir apparent in British history.
HRH Prince Charles was created the Prince of Wales on July 26th 1958, at the age of nine. However his mother, HM Queen Elizabeth II, decided Prince Charles should not be invested until he truly understood the weight of his responsibility as Prince of Wales. On 1st July 1969, at the age of 20, and after learning the Welsh language and studying Welsh culture, Prince Charles was invested at Caernarfon Castle. The investiture took place behind the medieval walls of the castle, with over 4,000 guests in attendance. Thousands more were in the dry moat outside the castle and millions around the world watched on television.
The four stamps show: Prince Charles arriving at Caernarfon Castle at the start of the investiture ceremony, HM Queen Elizabeth II placing the coronet on Prince Charles’ head, HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales standing at Queen Eleanor’s Gate, Caernarfon Castle and HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales walking together in the grounds of the castle. The Miniature Sheet features Prince Charles’ official investiture portrait, in which he is dressed in his investiture regalia. The sheet also features an extract of the speech he gave at the ceremony. Both the stamps and Miniature Sheet have been printed using a metallic gold ink.
Jersey Post’s The Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales 1st July 1969 stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from 1 July 2019. Philatelic stamp products such as Miniature Sheets, First Day Covers and Presentation Packs will be available from the Jersey post offices at Broad Street, St Helier and Rue Des Pres, St Saviour on issue day and can be ordered now at www.jerseystamps.com Alternatively, you can email the Jersey Philatelic Bureau at stamps@jerseypost.com or telephone us on: +44(0) 1534 616717.