Poste Italiane announces the issue by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy of a commemorative stamp for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, with a value of €1.30, category B zone 1. Print run: 500,040 stamps, in sheets of 45 stamps. The stamp is printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., using the rotogravure printing process, on white, neutral coated, self-adhesive, non-fluorescent paper. The sketch was provided by Emanuele Cigliuti and optimised by the Philatelic Production Centre of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A.
The vignette
The vignette depicts the profile of Queen Elizabeth II in five different historical eras. At the bottom, in the centre, there is the royal seal of the Sovereign’s reign. Completing the stamp are the words “Regina Elisabetta II”,“1926 – 2022”, “Italia” and the category “B zona 1” fee. The first-day cancellation will be available at Spazio Filatelia Roma 1.
Philatelic products
The postage stamp and related philatelic products, postcards, cards and pamphlets will be available at Post Offices featuring the Philatelic Service, “Spazio Filatelia” in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Rome 1, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona and on the filatelia.poste.it website. A three-part A4 philatelic folder has also been produced for the occasion, with a quartet of stamps, a single stamp, a cancelled and franked postcard, a first-day envelope and a bulletin, priced at €20.
70 years of reign
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms from 6th February 1952 until 8th September 2022. Her reign has lasted over 70 years and is the longest of any British Monarch and the longest reign of any female Head of State in history. In 70 years we saw not only the United Kingdom evolve, but also Italy. Queen Elizabeth II held an affection for Italy and the Italian people, and visited Italy 4 times for state visits and met various Popes and Presidents of the Republic. Her first time in Italy was as Princess Elizabeth in 1951, two years before the coronation and, together with her husband The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, she celebrated her 25th birthday at Villa Adriana. This started her affection for Italy and her role in helping to cement the close ties between the United Kingdom and Italy.
The young sovereign
Queen Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair, London, the 21th of April 1926, as the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York. Queen Elizabeth II grew up in a loving and supportive family with her sister Princess Margaret and her parents. Her father acceded to the throne in 1936, upon the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, and died in 1952 leaving the throne to Elizabeth. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten and their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in 2021; they had four children: the Prince Charles, the Princess Anne, the Prince Andrew, and the Prince Edward.
The Queen’s personal interests
Despite her programme of engagements and duties, Queen Elizabeth II managed hobbies and interests away from her official work, for example as a rider, owner and breeder of horses; she also took great pleasure walking in the countryside and spending time with her dogs. As Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II played an important role travelling extensively to Commonwealth Nations as well as to countries all across the globe, reinforcing links between all those involved. Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle in September 2022 and was succeeded by her son King Charles III.
