Royal Mail stamps 2018 - Hampton Court Palace, 31 July 2018

One of Britain’s grandest buildings is the subject of the latest Royal Mail stamps, which profile Hampton Court Palace, once a splendid royal home and now a top historic attraction.

Built for Cardinal Wolsey but snatched from his grasp by his jealous royal master King Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace has centuries of history and has housed some of Britain’s greatest monarchs.

However the splendid palace is only part of the story, as the new Hampton Court Palace stamps show, for the historic site is also recognized for its splendid gardens, which are home to the world’s oldest hedge maze.

The Hampton Court Palace stamps in detail

The six stamps together highlight some of the best-loved features of the palace and its gardens, with three stamps showing the palace and the other three showcasing scenic spots in the historic gardens.

The three palace stamps, all 1st class, show the South Front, designed by Sir Christopher Wren for William and Mary and overlooking the Privy Garden; Wolsey’s grand Great Gatehoues – perhaps the most famous feature at Hampton Court Palace; and the Baroque-style East Front, which overlooks the Great Fountain Garden.

The three £1.55 values spotlight the palace grounds, with the Tudor Pond Gardens, which supplied the court with fresh fish; the 17^th-century maze; and the ornate Great Fountain Garden.

Stamp details: Hampton Court Palace

Issue date: 31 July 2018

Design: Osborne Ross

Format: Landscape

Stamp size: 60mm x 30mm

Print process: Lithography

Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5

Phosphor: Bars as appropriate

Gum: PVA

1st – South Front

1st – West Front

1st – East Front

£1.55 – Pond Gardens

£1.55 – Maze

£1.55 – Great Fountain Garden