Royal Mail#Mail centres

File:Charles Cooper Henderson - Mail Coaches on the Road- the Louth-London Royal Mail progressing at Speed - Google Art Project.jpg-London Royal Mail, by Charles Cooper Henderson, 1820 ]]

File:James Jacques Laurent Agasse (attr) Edinburgh and London Royal Mail.jpg ]]

File:Lower Edmonton Sorting Office, London - DSC06936.JPG

The Royal Mail can trace its history back to 1516, when Henry VIII established a "Master of the Posts",{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanpostalsystems.co.uk/royal-mail-timeline|title=A brief timeline of the Royal Mail|access-date=1 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806020448/http://www.europeanpostalsystems.co.uk/royal-mail-timeline/|archive-date=6 August 2014}} a position that was renamed "Postmaster General" in 1710.Annie Muriel Chambers, A Constitutional History of England, vol. 1 (New York: Macmillan, 1909), p. 131

Upon his accession to the throne of England at the Union of the Crowns in 1603, James VI of Scotland moved his court to London. One of his first acts from London was to establish the royal postal service between London and Edinburgh, in an attempt to retain control over the Scottish Privy Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityam.com/twitter-s-float-reminds-us-why-we-must-privatise-royal-mail/|title=Twitter's float reminds us why we must privatise the Royal Mail|publisher=City A.M.|date=13 September 2013|access-date=15 October 2013}}

{{Main|General Post Office}}

The Royal Mail service was first made available to the public by Charles I on 31 July 1635, with postage being paid by the recipient. The monopoly was farmed out to Thomas Witherings.Lewins, W (1865). [https://archive.org/details/hermajestysmail00lewigoog Her Majesty's Mail]. London: Sampson, London. p. 38.

In the 1640s, Parliament removed the monopoly from Witherings and during the Civil War and First Commonwealth the parliamentary postal service was run at great profit for himself by Edmund Prideaux (a prominent parliamentarian and lawyer who rose to be attorney-general).{{Cite DNB|last=Hamilton |first=John Andrew |title=Prideaux, Sir Edmund |volume=36 |pages=350,351}} To keep his monopoly in those troubled times Prideaux improved efficiency and used both legal impediments and illegal methods.{{cite book|first=James S. |last=How |year=2003 |title=Epistolary spaces: English letter-writing from the foundation of the Post Office to Richardson's Clarissa |edition=illustrated |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd |isbn=978-0-7546-0354-2 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=yoiw3IM1PdgC&pg=PA11 11,12]}}

In 1653, Parliament set aside all previous grants for postal services, and contracts were let for the inland and foreign mails to John Manley. Manley was given a monopoly on the postal service, which was effectively enforced by Protector Oliver Cromwell's government, and thanks to the improvements necessitated by the war, Manley ran a much-improved Post Office service. In July 1655, the Post Office was put under the direct government control of John Thurloe, a Secretary of State, best known to history as Cromwell's spymaster general. Previous English governments had tried to prevent conspirators from communicating; Thurloe preferred to deliver their post having surreptitiously read it. As the Protectorate claimed to govern all of Great Britain and Ireland under one unified government, on 9 June 1657 the Second Protectorate Parliament (which included Scottish and Irish MPs) passed the "Act for settling the Postage in England, Scotland and Ireland", which created one monopoly Post Office for the whole territory of the Commonwealth.{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons |year=1844 |chapter=Documents relating to the Office of Postmaster, &c., delivered in by Mr. Reeve, from the Council-office, &c. – From the register of the Council of State |title=House of Commons papers|volume=14 |publisher=HMSO |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=hWkSAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA5-PA28 28]}} The first Postmaster General was appointed in 1661, and a seal was first fixed to the mail.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stamps/british|title=Collectible British Stamps|work=Collectors Weekly|access-date=15 October 2013}}

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = Post Office Act 1660

| type = Act

| parliament = Parliament of England

| long_title = An Act for Erecting and Establishing a Post Office.

| year = 1660

| citation = 12 Cha. 2. c. 35

| introduced_commons =

| introduced_lords =

| territorial_extent =

| royal_assent = 29 December 1660

| commencement =

| expiry_date =

| repeal_date = 28 July 1863

| amends =

| replaces =

| amendments =

| repealing_legislation = Statute Law Revision Act 1863

| related_legislation =

| status = repealed

| original_text = https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/pp297-301

| collapsed = yes

}}

At the restoration of the monarchy, in 1660, all the ordinances and acts passed by parliaments during the Civil War and the Interregnum passed into oblivion, so the General Post Office (GPO) was officially established by Charles II under the {{visible anchor|Post Office Act 1660}} (12 Cha. 2. c. 35).{{cite book |last=Allan |first=Marshall |title=Intelligence and Espionage in the Reign of Charles II, 1660–1685 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2003 |location=Cambridge, UK |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpHMnBeiXrQC&pg=PA79 |isbn=0-521-43180-8 }}

Between 1719 and 1763, Ralph Allen, postmaster at Bath, signed a series of contracts with the post office to develop and expand Britain's postal network.{{Cite book |last=Tombs |first=R. C. |url=https://archive.org/details/tombs-bristol-royal-mail/page/8/mode/2up |title=The Bristol Royal Mail. Post, Telegraph, and Telephone |publisher=Arrowsmith |year=1899 |location=Bristol |pages=8–16}} He organised mail coaches which were provided by both Wilson & Company of London and Williams & Company of Bath. The early Royal Mail Coaches were similar to ordinary family coaches, but with Post Office livery.{{cite book |last=Smith |first=D. J. |title=Discovering horse-drawn vehicles |publisher=Shire Publications |year=2004 |location=Princes Risborough |page=52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l4Nw_JbZw7YC&pg=PA52 |isbn=0-7478-0208-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213181927/https://books.google.com/books?id=l4Nw_JbZw7YC&hl=en |archive-date=13 February 2016}}

The first mail coach ran in 1784, operating between Bristol and London.{{Cite book |last=Tombs |first=R. C. |url=https://archive.org/details/tombs-bristol-royal-mail/page/20/mode/2up |title=The Bristol Royal Mail. Post, Telegraph, and Telephone |publisher=Arrowsmith |year=1899 |location=Bristol |pages=20–22}} Delivery staff received uniforms for the first time in 1793, and the Post Office Investigation Branch was established. The first mail train ran in 1830, on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The Post Office's money order system was introduced in 1838.{{cite web|url=http://www.victorianweb.org/history/letters/bootle.html|title=Post Office Money Order: A. Scott of Bootle to Peter Hodgson Esq, Whitehaven, 1841|publisher=Victorian Web|access-date=15 October 2013}}

{{Main|Uniform Penny Post}}

File:UPP POreg handbill 1840jan7.png giving details of the Uniform Penny Post, dated 7 January 1840]]

In December 1839, the first substantial reform started when postage rates were revised by the short-lived Uniform Fourpenny Post.{{cite journal |last=Hill |first=Rowland |author-link=Rowland Hill (postal reformer) |title=On the Effect of the New Postal Arrangements upon the Number of Letters |journal=Journal of the Statistical Society of London |volume=3 |publisher=Statistical Society (Great Britain) |year=1840 |issue=1 |pages=102–105 |location=London |doi=10.2307/2337966 |jstor=2337966 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4f4BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA102 |access-date=23 November 2009 }}

Rowland Hill, an English teacher, inventor and social reformer, became disillusioned with the postal service, and wrote a paper proposing reforms that resulted in an approach that would go on to change not only the Royal Mail, but also be copied by postal services around the world. His proposal was refused at the first attempt, but he overcame the political obstacles, and was appointed to implement and develop his ideas. He realised that many small purchases would fund the organisation and implemented this by changing it from a receiver-pays to a sender-pays system. This was used as the model for other postal services around the world, but also spilled over to the modern-day crowd-funding approach.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csz2wm |title=BBC World Service – 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy, Postage stamp |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=23 May 2020}}

Greater changes took place when the Uniform Penny Post was introduced on 10 January 1840, whereby a single rate for delivery anywhere in Great Britain and Ireland was pre-paid by the sender.{{cite book|title=Third Report of the Postmaster General on the Post Office|publisher=HMSO |year=1857 |location=London |page=41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ITosAAAAYAAJ}} A few months later, to certify that postage had been paid on a letter, the sender could affix the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, which was available for use from 6 May the same year.{{cite book |last=Osmańczyk |first=Edmund Jan |author2=Mango, Anthony |title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: Third Edition Volume: N to S |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2003 |page=2179 |isbn=9780415939218 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDwDmuOEheIC&pg=PA2179 }} Other innovations were the introduction of pre-paid William Mulready designed postal stationery letter sheets and envelopes.{{cite web |title =Mulready stationery: Lettersheets and envelopes |work =The Queen's Own: Stamps That Changed the World |publisher =National Postal Museum |url =http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/queen%27s/mulreadystationery-list2.html |access-date =25 September 2006 |archive-date =10 December 2019 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20191210165209/http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/queen%27s/mulreadystationery-list2.html |url-status =dead }}

As Britain was the first country to issue prepaid postage stamps, British stamps are the only stamps that do not bear the name of the country of issue on them.{{cite web |first=Bruce |last=Petersen |url=http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2040510 |title=Philately: Countries: Great Britain |publisher=National Postal Museum |date=16 May 2006 |access-date=3 September 2012 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723123140/http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2040510 |url-status=dead }}

By the late 19th century, there were between six and twelve mail deliveries per day in London, permitting correspondents to exchange multiple letters within a single day.{{cite web | url=http://www.victorianlondon.org/communications/dickens-postalregulations.htm| work=Victorian London – Communications – Post – Delivery Times and Postal Regulations |title=Murray's Handbook to London As It Is| year=1879 |access-date=3 December 2008}}

The first trial of the London Pneumatic Despatch Company was made in 1863, sending mail by underground rail between postal depots. The Post Office began its telegraph service in 1870.{{cite web|url=http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/movingthemail-telegram|title=Telegram messengers|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015224358/http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/movingthemail-telegram|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Pillar box}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| total_width = 320

| image1 = London Ornate pillar box.jpg

| width1 = 400 | height1 =

| alt1 = Green Victorian pillar box

| caption1 = Pillar box dating from the reign of Queen Victoria

| image2 = Clackmannan Original GR VI Wall Post Box Still in use.jpg

| width2 = 287 | height2 =

| alt2 = red King George VI wall box

| caption2 = Royal Mail GR VI cast iron wall postbox in Clackmannan, Scotland still in use

}}

The first Post Office pillar box was erected in 1852 in Jersey. Pillar boxes were introduced in mainland Britain the following year.{{cite web|url=http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/timeline?decade=1850|title=Timeline of key events|publisher=Postal Heritage|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019113630/http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/page/timeline?decade=1850|url-status=dead}} British pillar boxes traditionally carry the Latin initials of the reigning monarch at the time of their installation, for example: VR for Victoria Regina or GR for Georgius Rex. Such branding was not used in Scotland for most of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, due to a dispute over the monarch's title: some Scottish nationalists argue that Queen Elizabeth II should have simply been Queen Elizabeth, as there had been no previous Queen Elizabeth of Scotland or of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Elizabeth I was only Queen of the pre-1707 Kingdom of England). The dispute involved vandalism and attacks on pillar and post boxes introduced in Scotland which displayed EIIR. To avoid the issue, pillar boxes in Scotland were either marked 'Post Office' or used the Scots Crown.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dTxtuQyoYgwC&pg=PA177|title=Many Changeful Years|first=Graham|last=Lister|date=14 June 2005|page=177|publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=9781462842452|access-date=15 October 2013}}

A national telephone service was opened by the Post Office in 1912. In 1919, the first international airmail service was developed by Royal Engineers (Postal Section) and Royal Air Force. The London Post Office Railway was opened in 1927.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/301893.final_delivery_for_mail_rail/ |title=Final delivery for Mail Rail |publisher=This Is Local London |access-date=19 August 2009 |date=30 May 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705163438/http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/301893.final_delivery_for_mail_rail/ |archive-date=5 July 2009 }}

In 1941, an airgraph service was introduced between UK and Egypt. The service was later extended to Canada (1941), East Africa (1941), Burma (1942), India (1942), South Africa (1942), Australia (1943), New Zealand (1943) Ceylon (1944) and Italy (1944).{{cite web|url=http://postalheritage.wordpress.com/tag/airgraph/|title=Airgraph|access-date=15 October 2013|publisher=The Postal Museum|work=The British Postal Museum & Archive blog}}

Postcodes were extended across Great Britain and Northern Ireland between 1959 and 1974.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8288148.stm|title=Modern postcodes are 50 years old|publisher=BBC|date=2 October 2009|access-date=15 October 2013}} The two-class postal system was introduced in 1968, using first-class and second-class services. The Post Office opened the National Giro Bank that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=2060-giro&cid=0#0|title=GIRO|publisher=National Archives|access-date=15 October 2013}}

In April 2025, Royal Mail announced that they were trailing a new solar-powered "postbox of the future" with a built-in barcode reader and a hatch to accept parcels larger than letterbox size.{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |last2=Partridge |first2=Joanna |date=2025-04-09 |title=Royal Mail trials postbox with parcel hatch, solar panels and barcode scanner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/10/royal-mail-trials-postbox-parcel-hatch-solar-panels-barcode-scanner |access-date=2025-04-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Under the Post Office Act 1969 the General Post Office was changed from a government department to a statutory corporation, known simply as the Post Office. The office of Postmaster General was abolished and replaced with the positions of chairman and chief executive in the new company.{{Cite news |url=http://postalheritage.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/40th-anniversary-of-the-post-office-act-1969/ |title=40th Anniversary of the Post Office Act 1969 |publisher=The British Postal Museum & Archive |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=20 June 2011}} In 1971, postal services in Great Britain were suspended for two months between January and March as the result of a national postal strike over a pay claim.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/8/newsid_2516000/2516343.stm |title=1971: "Post strike ends with pay deal" (bbc.co.uk) |publisher=BBC News |date=30 October 1970 |access-date=12 September 2010}}

British Telecom was separated from the Post Office in 1980, and emerged as an independent business in 1981. In 1986 the Post Office was subdivided into four businesses: Royal Mail Letters, Royal Mail Parcels, Post Office Counters and the National Girobank. Girobank was sold to Alliance & Leicester in 1990, but the remaining business continued under public ownership as privatisation of this was deemed to be too unpopular. That same year, Royal Mail Parcels was rebranded as Parcelforce as part of an attempt to compete with international courier firms, which were fast expanding into the European market.Campbell-Smith (2011), pages 626–633.

Postal workers held their first national strike for 17 years in 1988, after walking out over bonuses being paid to recruit new workers in London and the South East. Royal Mail established Romec (Royal Mail Engineering & Construction) in 1989 to deliver facilities maintenance services to its business. Romec was 51% owned by Royal Mail, and 49% by Haden Building Management Ltd, which became Balfour Beatty WorkPlace and is now Cofely UK, part of GDF Suez in a joint venture.{{cite web|url=http://www.cwu.org/romec-cleaning-services-investigation-uncovers-endemic-safety-failures.html|title=Romec Cleaning Services Investigation uncovers Endemic Safety failures|publisher=CWU|date=28 August 2006|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104223803/http://www.cwu.org/romec-cleaning-services-investigation-uncovers-endemic-safety-failures.html|archive-date=4 November 2013}}

In the 1990s the President of the Board of Trade, Michael Heseltine, began to look again at privatisation, and eventually a Green Paper on Postal Reform was published in May 1994, outlining various possible options. The ideas, however, proved controversial, and were dropped from the 1994 Queen's Speech after a number of Conservative MPs warned Heseltine that they would not vote for the legislation.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tory-rebels-thwart-royal-mail-selloff-1439758.html|title=Tory rebels thwart Royal Mail sell-off |publisher=Independent|date=3 November 1994 |access-date=23 June 2011 }}

In 1998, Royal Mail launched RelayOne as an email to postal service system.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Tim |title=Royal Mail ditches e-mail operation |url=https://www.theregister.com/2000/08/01/royal_mail_ditches_email_operation/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=The Register |language=en}} In 1999, Royal Mail launched a short-lived e-commerce venture, ViaCode Limited, aimed at providing encrypted online communications services.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/297780.stm|title=Sci/Tech: Royal Mail posts e-commerce first|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 March 2018}} However, it failed to make a profit and closed in 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/29/royal_mail_pulls_plug/|date=29 May 2002|publisher=The Register|title=Royal Mail pulls plug on ViaCode digital certificate|access-date=17 March 2018}}

In 1999 Royal Mail acquired German Parcel, incorporating it into a newly-formed holding company, General Logistics Systems B.V., which over the next few years was used to establish an international network of parcel couriers ('through acquisitions and the founding of companies in numerous countries').{{cite web |title=About us: History |url=https://gls-group.com/GROUP/en/about-us/ |website=GLS Group |access-date=15 February 2025}} In 2002 the GLS brand was launched, which later went on to function as Royal Mail's European parcels business.{{cite web |title=Royal Mail plc: Annual Report and Financial Statements, 2013-2014 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08680755 |website=Companies House |access-date=15 February 2025 |page=3}}

The Post Office had its headquarters in St. Martin's Le Grand, in the City of London, until 1984. Then the headquarters division moved out to 33 Grosvenor Place (lately vacated by British Steel).{{cite book |editor1-last=Weinreb |editor1-first=Ben |editor2-last=Hibbert |editor2-first=Christopher |title=The London Encyclopaedia |date=1993 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |page=634 |edition=2nd |chapter=Post Office}} After 1986 separate headquarters were established elsewhere for each of the three subdivisions of the Post Office, leaving a much reduced corporate head office (with just thirty staff) who in 1990 moved to 30 St James's Square; two years later it was again moved, to be co-located with the Letters head office in Royal Mail House (148 Old Street).Campbell-Smith (2011), page

After a change of government in 1997, New Labour decided to keep the Post Office state-owned, but with more commercial freedom. This led to the Postal Services Act 2000, whereby the Post Office became a public limited company in which the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry owned a special share, and the Treasury Solicitor held a ordinary share.{{cite web|url=http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/postalservices/legislation/royalmailcompany/page28907.html |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090703144545/http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/postalservices/legislation/royalmailcompany/page28907.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2009 |title=Legislation concerning the Royal Mail company |publisher=National Archives |year=2009 |access-date=26 August 2013}} As part of the 2000 Act, the government set up a postal regulator, the Postal Services Commission, known as Postcomm, which offered licences to private companies to deliver mail. In 2001, the Consumer Council for Postal Services, known as Postwatch, was created for consumers to express any concerns they may have with the postal service in Britain.{{cite news |title=Where do missing letters go? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/1231012.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=20 March 2001 |access-date=26 August 2013}}

The company was renamed Consignia Public Limited Company in 2001,{{cite news |title=UK Post Office name change |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1107663.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=9 January 2001 |access-date=26 August 2013}} a name that was invented by the consultancy company Dragon Brands,{{cite news |last1=Verdin |first1=Mike |title=Consignia: Nine letters that spelled fiasco |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2002480.stm |access-date=8 October 2024 |agency=BBC |date=31 May 2002}} and the new name was intended to show that the company did more than deliver mail; however, the change was very unpopular with both the general public and employees. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) boycotted the name, and the following year, it was announced that the company would be renamed Royal Mail Group plc.{{cite news |title=Consignia name lost in post as Royal Mail returns |last=Fagan |first=Mary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2764832/Consignia-name-lost-in-post-as-Royal-Mail-returns.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=9 June 2002 |access-date=26 August 2013}} In 2002 Consignia discussed a potential merger with Dutch postal operator TPG, but the plans did not proceed after the two companies failed to agree terms.{{cite news |title=Anger as government admits post office for sale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/apr/01/politics.postalservice |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 April 2002 |access-date=15 April 2025}}

The company began operating under its 'new' name, Royal Mail Group plc, on 4 November 2002.{{cite web |title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04138203 |website=Companies House |publisher=UK Government |access-date=15 February 2025}} Use of the Post Office brand was afterwards restricted to the counters business ('Post Office Counters Ltd' since 1987), which was duly renamed Post Office Limited; it continued to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Mail Group plc until 2012, when the two were separated in preparation for the latter's privatisation.{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.royalmail.com/about-us |website=Royal Mail |access-date=22 October 2024}}

In 2004, the second daily delivery was scrapped in an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency, meaning a later single delivery would be made.{{cite news |title=Second post to be ditched |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1841961.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=26 February 2002 |access-date=26 August 2013}} The same year, the travelling post office mail trains were also axed.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3385111.stm |title=End of line for mail trains |publisher=BBC News |date=10 January 2004 |access-date=13 May 2009 }} In 2005, Royal Mail signed a contract with GB Railfreight to operate an overnight rail service between London and Scotland (carrying bulk mail, and without any on-train sorting); this was later followed by a London-Newcastle service.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/7814591/The-Royal-Mail-a-history-of-the-British-postal-service.html# |title=The Royal Mail: a history of the British postal service |last=Blake |first=Heidi |date=10 June 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=2 October 2013}}

File:Mount Pleasant postal sorting office 2.jpg]]

On 1 January 2006, the Royal Mail lost its 350-year monopoly, and the British postal market became fully open to competition.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4274335.stm |title=Royal Mail loses postal monopoly |publisher=BBC News |date=18 February 2005 |access-date=17 April 2010 }} Competitors were allowed to collect and sort mail, and pass it to Royal Mail for delivery, a service known as downstream access. Royal Mail introduced Pricing in Proportion (PiP) for first and second class inland mail, whereby prices are affected by the size as well as weight of items. It also introduced an online postage service, allowing customers to pay for postage online.{{cite news |title=Online postage service launched |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5358436.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=19 September 2006 |access-date=26 August 2013}}

In 2007, the Royal Mail Group plc became Royal Mail Group Ltd, in a slight change of legal status. Royal Mail ended Sunday collections from pillar boxes that year.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7065912.stm |title=Sunday postal collections ended |publisher=BBC News |date=27 October 2007 |access-date=13 May 2009 }}

On 1 October 2008, Postwatch was merged into the new consumer watchdog Consumer Focus.{{cite news |title=Merged consumer body begins work |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7645425.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=26 August 2013}}

In 2008, due to a continuing fall in mail volumes, the government commissioned an independent review of the postal services sector by Richard Hooper CBE, the former deputy chairman of Ofcom. The recommendations in the Hooper Review led Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to seek to part privatise the company by selling a minority stake to a commercial partner. However, despite legislation for the sale passing the House of Lords, it was abandoned in the House of Commons after strong opposition from backbench Labour MPs. The government later cited the difficult economic conditions for the reason behind the retreat.{{Cite journal|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|journal=The Guardian|title=Brown will back down over Royal Mail privatisation, predicts Labour rebel|date=5 May 2009|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/may/05/brown-royal-mail}}

After the departure of Adam Crozier to ITV plc on 27 May 2010, Royal Mail appointed Canadian Moya Greene as chief executive,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10175621.stm|title=Royal Mail names Moya Greene as new chief executive|publisher=BBC News|date=27 May 2010|access-date=27 May 2010}} the first woman to hold the post.{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article7137487.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611211447/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article7137487.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2011|title=Moya Greene of Canada Post in line for top job at Royal Mail|work=The Times|date=27 May 2010|access-date=27 May 2010 | location=London | first1=Ian | last1=King | first2=Robert | last2=Lindsay}}

On 6 December 2010, a number of paid-for services including Admail, post office boxes and private post boxes were removed from the Inland Letter Post Scheme (ILPS) and became available under contract. Several free services, including petitions to parliament and the sovereign, and poste restante, were removed from the scheme.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmailgroup.com/sites/default/files/Changes%20to%20inland%20letter%20post%20and%20parcel%20post%20schemes_Sept%202010.pdf |title=Changes to the Inland Letter Post and Inland Parcel Post Schemes |last=Waples |first=Mark |date=6 September 2010 |publisher=Royal Mail |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-date=25 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125174815/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/sites/default/files/Changes%20to%20inland%20letter%20post%20and%20parcel%20post%20schemes_Sept%202010.pdf |url-status=dead }}

File:Royal Mail Van.jpg van, seen in Wymondham in 2021]]

Following the 2010 general election, the new Business Secretary in the coalition government, Vince Cable, asked Richard Hooper CBE to expand on his previous report, to account for EU Directive 2008/6/EC which called for the postal sector to be fully open to competition by 31 December 2012.{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/internal_market/single_market_services/l24166_en.htm |title=The Establishment of an Internal Postal Market |publisher=Europa (web portal) |date=7 February 1994 |access-date=7 June 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/e2e-guidance/responses/TNT.pdf |title=TNT Post UK Limited: Response to Consultation End-to-end competition in the postal sector: Draft guidance on Ofcom's approach |publisher=Ofcom |date=8 January 2013 |access-date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=24 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224033637/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/e2e-guidance/responses/TNT.pdf |url-status=dead }} Based on the updated Hooper Review, the government passed the Postal Services Act 2011. The act allowed for up to 90% of Royal Mail to be privatised, with at least 10% of shares to be held by Royal Mail employees.{{Cite news |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/5/contents/enacted|title=Postal Services Act 2011|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|date=13 June 2011 |access-date=23 June 2011 }}

As part of the 2011 act, Postcomm was merged into the communications regulator Ofcom on 1 October 2011, with Ofcom introducing a new simplified set of regulations for postal services on 27 March 2012.{{Cite news|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/review-of-regulatory-conditions/statement/|title=Securing the Universal Postal Service – Decision on the new regulatory framework|publisher=Ofcom|date=27 March 2012|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-date=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406104424/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/review-of-regulatory-conditions/statement/|url-status=dead}} On 31 March 2012, the government took over the historic assets and liabilities of the Royal Mail pension scheme, relieving Royal Mail of its huge pensions deficit. On 1 April 2012, Post Office Limited became independent of Royal Mail Group, and was reorganised to become a subsidiary of Royal Mail Holdings,{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/ensuring-the-future-of-the-universal-postal-service-and-post-office-network-services |title=Ensuring the future of the universal postal service and Post Office network services |date=10 July 2012 |publisher=Gov.uk |access-date=26 August 2013}} with a separate management and board of directors.[http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/shareholderexecutive/structure/portfolio-unit/post-office Post Office Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821045026/http://bis.gov.uk/policies/shareholderexecutive/structure/portfolio-unit/post-office |date=21 August 2012 }} Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Retrieved 8 December 2012 A 10-year inter-business agreement was signed between the two companies to allow Post Offices to continue issuing stamps and handling letters and parcels for Royal Mail.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/9035225/Fear-of-mass-post-office-closures-averted-as-Royal-Mail-agrees-10-year-lifeline.html |title=Fear of mass post office closures averted as Royal Mail agrees 10-year lifeline |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Christopher |last=Hope |date=24 January 2012}} The act also contained the option for Post Office Ltd to become a mutual organisation in the future.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11526179|title=Royal Mail privatisation bill unveiled by Vince Cable|date=13 October 2010|access-date=25 May 2011|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|work=BBC News Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216182406/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11526179|archive-date=16 February 2019|url-status=live}}

In July 2013, Cable announced that Royal Mail was to be floated on the London Stock Exchange, and confirmed that postal staff would be entitled to free shares. A new holding company, Royal Mail plc, was established in September 2013, in anticipation of its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.{{cite web |title=Royal Mail Group Ltd Annual Report and Financial Statements 2013-2014 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04138203/filing-history?page=1 |website=Companies House |publisher=HM Government |access-date=6 December 2024}} Applications for members of the public to buy shares opened on 27 September 2013,{{cite news |title=Royal Mail sold today |last=Peston |first=Robert |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24295718 |publisher=BBC News |date=27 September 2013 |access-date=1 October 2013}} ahead of the company's listing on the London Stock Exchange on 15 October 2013.{{cite news |title=Royal Mail shares to be sold before possible strikes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24294745 |publisher=BBC News |date=27 October 2013 |access-date=1 October 2013}} Trading as Royal Mail, and continuing to serve as the UK's designated Universal Service Provider, the company operated through two divisions: UKPIL (UK Parcels, International & Letters) 'Royal Mail's core UK and international parcels and letter delivery businesses under the Royal Mail and Pacelforce Worldwide brands' and GLS (General Logistics Systems) 'the Group's European parcels business'; (between 2016 and 2020, GLS would expand beyond Europe and into North America). Throughout this time, Royal Mail Group Limited continued to operate as a 'wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Mail plc', running the UKPIL side of the operation.

During its annual general meeting on 20 July 2022, the company announced that the holding company responsible for both Royal Mail and GLS would change its name to International Distributions Services (IDS) plc. It was also suggested that the board of directors may look to separate GLS in order to distance the profitable company from Royal Mail, which were in negotiations with the CWU over both pay and future changes to ways of working.{{cite news |title= Royal Mail threatens to split up business as it reports £1m a day loss|url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/20/royal-mail-threatens-to-split-up-business-losing-pounds-1m-a-day-strike |access-date=20 July 2022 |work=The Guardian}} The name change was filled in the Companies House on 28 September 2022 and registered on 3 October.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08680755/filing-history/MzM1Mzg3Mzg2NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=NM04 notice for Royal Mail plc|date=3 October 2022|access-date=25 October 2022}} In March 2023, talks over pay were reportedly at collapse.{{Cite news |date=28 March 2023 |title=Royal Mail talks over pay on brink of collapse |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65099143 |access-date=28 March 2023}}

In December 2024, the UK Labour government approved the £3.6bn sale of IDS to Daniel Křetínský's EP Group, marking the first time the 508-year-old postal service came under foreign ownership. The deal, reviewed under national security laws, included commitments to retain the universal service obligation, UK headquarters, and tax residency, while barring dividends unless financial and service targets were met. Despite concerns over declining letter volumes and scrutiny of Křetínský's Russian business ties, the agreement, supported by unions, aimed to stabilise and reform Royal Mail.{{cite news|last=Jolly |first=Jasper |title=Royal Mail takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský approved |date=16 December 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/16/royal-mail-takeover-daniel-kretinsky-uk-ids |website=The Guardian}}

Royal Mail Group Ltd continues to function as a wholly-owned subsidiary: "The Company makes up a significant part of the Royal Mail UK segment ('Royal Mail') within the IDS plc Group", running parcels and letter delivery businesses under the Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide brands.{{cite web |title=Royal Mail Group Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements (2024) |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04138203/filing-history |website=Companies House |access-date=15 February 2025}}

File:Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre, Langley - geograph.org.uk - 25759.jpg, where mail entering and leaving the United Kingdom is sorted]]

Royal Mail is required by law to maintain the universal service, whereby items of a specific size{{cite news|title=Royal Mail Postal Guide|url= http://www.polypostalpackaging.com/uk-royal-mail-pip-postal-guide.html |work=PPPGuide|access-date=15 March 2015}} can be sent to any location within the United Kingdom for a fixed price, not affected by distance. The Postal Services Act 2011 guaranteed that Royal Mail would continue to provide the universal service until at least 2021.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmailgroup.com/about-us/regulation/how-were-regulated/universal-service-obligation |title=Universal Service Obligation |year=2013 |publisher=Royal Mail Group |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=17 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817180923/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/about-us/regulation/how-were-regulated/universal-service-obligation |url-status=dead }}

On 20 January 2025, Royal Mail announced that it is expected to be permitted to discontinue Saturday deliveries for second-class letters under proposals put forward by Ofcom. The plans also include a reduction in postal delivery targets.The postal and communications regulator has proposed that second-class letter deliveries operate on alternate weekdays while maintaining first-class letter deliveries six days a week.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Royal Mail: Second-class post on Saturdays set to be scrapped |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2l0pvy2ew7o |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Royal Mail Special Delivery is an expedited mail service that guarantees delivery by 1 p.m. or 9 a.m. the next day for an increased cost. In the event that the item does not arrive on time, there is a money back guarantee. It insures goods to the value of £50 for 9 a.m. or £750 for 1 p.m. An extra fee can be paid to extend the insurance coverage to up to £2,500 (for either service).{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/SD_Quick_Quicker_April2012%20.pdf|title=Royal Mail Special Delivery|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104222627/http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/SD_Quick_Quicker_April2012%20.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.royalmail.com/sending/uk|title=UK Services|publisher=Royal Mail|access-date=2 August 2023}}

File:BLW Automated postal sorting equipment (2).jpg

The Royal Mail runs, alongside its stamped mail services, another sector of post called business mail. The large majority of Royal Mail's business mail service is for PPI or franked mail, where the sender prints their own 'stamp'. For PPI mail, this involves either a simple rubber stamp and an ink pad, or a printed label. For franked mail, a dedicated franking machine is used.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmail.com/parcel-despatch-low/uk-delivery/how-buy-our-services/franking |title=Franking services |year=2013 |publisher=Royal Mail |access-date=15 October 2013}}

Bulk business mail, using Mailmark technology,{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmail.com/corporate/mailmark|title=Royal Mail Mailmark|publisher=royalmail.com|access-date=1 June 2017}} attracts reduced prices of up to 32%,{{cite web|url=https://frankedmail.co.uk/mailmark/|title=Mailmark Prices|publisher=frankedmail.co.uk|access-date=1 June 2017}} if the sender prints an RM4SCC barcode, or prints the address formatted in a specific way in a font readable by RM optical character recognition (OCR) equipment.{{Cite report|title=User Guide for Machine Readable Letters & Large Letters| url=https://www.royalmailtechnical.com/rmt_docs/User_Guides_2019/Machine_Readable_Letters_and_Large_Letters_20190827.pdf|publisher=Royal Mail|date=27 August 2019|page=10}} Format and list of address fonts recognised by Royal Mail.

Royal Mail will not carry a number of items which it says could be dangerous for its staff or vehicles. Additionally, a list of 'restricted' items can be posted subject to conditions. Prohibited goods include alcoholic, corrosive or flammable liquids or solids, gases, controlled drugs, indecent or offensive materials, and human and animal remains.{{cite web|title=Prohibited goods|url=http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Tell-me-about-Prohibited-Goods|publisher=Royal Mail|access-date=25 January 2015}}

In 2004, Royal Mail applied to the then postal regulator Postcomm to ban the carriage of sporting firearms, saying they caused disruption to the network, that a ban would assist police with firearms control, and that ease of access meant the letters network was a target of criminals. Postcomm issued a consultation on the proposed changes in December 2004, to which 62 people and organisations responded.{{cite web|title=Consultation on proposal to prohibit the carriage of firearms|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/post/1441.pdf|publisher=Postcomm|access-date=11 January 2013}}

In June 2005, Postcomm decided to refuse the application on the grounds that Royal Mail had not provided sufficient evidence that carrying firearms caused undue disruption or that a ban would reduce the number of illegal weapons. It also said that a ban would cause unnecessary hardship to individuals and businesses.{{cite web|title=Carriage of firearms: a decision document|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/post/163.pdf|publisher=Postcomm|access-date=11 January 2013}}

In August 2012, Royal Mail again attempted to prohibit the carriage of all firearms, air rifles and air pistols from 30 November 2012. It cited section 14(1) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45), which requires carriers of firearms to "take reasonable precautions" for their safe custody and argued that to comply would involve disproportionate cost. A Royal Mail public consultation document on the changes said: "We expect the impact on customers to be minimal".{{cite book|title=Proposals to prohibit Firearms and component parts from postal services offered under Postal Schemes|date=15 August 2012|publisher=Royal Mail}}

The proposals provoked a large negative response, following a campaign led by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, backed by numerous shooting-related websites and organisations. A total of 1,458 people gave their views in emails and letters sent to Royal Mail. An online petition opposing the proposals was signed by 2,236 people, 1,742 of whom added comments. In the face of such opposition, Royal Mail dropped the proposals in December 2012.{{cite web|title=Royal Mail – good news for airgunners and the trade|url=http://www.basc.org.uk/en/media/key_issues.cfm/cid/B9334D75-2CDD-482E-AB487E7EF4E1528F|publisher=BASC|access-date=11 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116062820/http://basc.org.uk/en/media/key_issues.cfm/cid/B9334D75-2CDD-482E-AB487E7EF4E1528F|archive-date=16 January 2013}}

Royal Mail's "Door to door" service provides delivery of leaflets, brochures, catalogues and other print materials to groups of domestic and business addresses selected by postcode. Such deliveries are made by the mail carrier together as part of the daily round.{{cite web|title=Door to Door – Leaflet Distribution Service|url=http://www.royalmail.com/business/services/sending/specialist-services/door-to-door|website=www.royalmail.com|language=en}} Companies using the "Door to door" service include Virgin Media, BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Farmfoods, Domino's Pizza, Direct Line and Morrisons.{{cite web|title=Door-to-Door Opt-Out|url=https://stopjunkmail.org.uk/guide/door-to-door-opt-out|website=stopjunkmail.org.uk|access-date=30 June 2017|language=en|date=9 December 2015|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141403/https://stopjunkmail.org.uk/guide/door-to-door-opt-out|url-status=dead}} In 2005, the service delivered 3.3 billion items.{{cite news|title=Anger over Royal Mail's junk mail warning|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/anger-over-royal-mails-junk-mail-warning-7266463.html|work=Evening Standard|date=29 August 2006}}

The "Door to door" service does not use the UK Mailing Preference Service; instead, Royal Mail operates its own opt-out database.{{cite web|title=How do I opt out of receiving any leaflets or unaddressed promotional material?|url=https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/293/~/how-do-i-opt-out-of-receiving-any-leaflets-or-unaddressed-promotional-material%3F|website=personal.help.royalmail.com|access-date=30 June 2017|language=en|date=2016}} Warnings about missing government communications given by Royal Mail to customers opting out of their service have been criticised by customers and consumer groups. Clarification given by the company in June 2015 explained that election communications and unaddressed government mail would be delivered to customers even if they had opted out.

File:Royal mail bicycle messenger Ilminster.JPG in Ilminster]]

As of 2019, Royal Mail employed around 162,000 permanent postal workers, of which 143,000 were UK based roles, and 90,000 were postmen and women.{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements 2018–19 |url=https://www.royalmailgroup.com/media/10795/annual-report-2018-19.pdf |publisher=Royal Mail |access-date=27 July 2019}} An additional 18,000 casual workers were employed during November and December to assist with the additional Christmas post.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/2011/11/16/110-000-seek-christmas-post-jobs-91466-29786232/ 110,000 seek Christmas post jobs], Wales Online, 16 November 2011 (published in Western Mail 17 November 2011). Retrieved 24 November 2011.

In 2011, Royal Mail established an in-house agency, Angard Staffing Solutions, to recruit temporary workers. Royal Mail was accused of trying to circumvent the Agency Workers Regulations, but denied this, saying they only wanted to reduce recruitment costs.{{cite web|title=Royal Mail Christmas temporary staff complain of lack of pay {{!}} Recruiter|url=http://www.recruiter.co.uk/news/2012/09/royal-mail-christmas-temporary-staff-complain-lack-pay|website=www.recruiter.co.uk|language=en}} In January 2012 it was reported that Angard had failed to pay a number of workers for several weeks.{{cite news |title=Unpaid Christmas temps hit out at Royal Mail |last=D'Arcy |first=Scott |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/9446495.Unpaid_Christmas_temps_hit_out_at_Royal_Mail/ |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=2 January 2012 |access-date=2 October 2013}}

Royal Mail's industrial disputes include a seven-week strike in 1971 after a dispute over pay and another strike in 1988 due to bonuses being paid to new staff recruited in London and the South East.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/13/world/britain-s-postal-strike-ends-with-a-settlement.html|title= Britain's Postal Strike Ends With a Settlement|work= The New York Times|date= 13 September 1988|access-date= 2 October 2013}}

Royal Mail suffered national wildcat strikes over pay and conditions in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://libcom.org/library/wildcats-return-with-a-roar-postal-wildcat-strike-2003 |title=Wildcats return with a roar – postal wildcat strike, 2003 |publisher=libcom.org |date=10 November 2006 |access-date=12 September 2010}} In Autumn 2007, disputes over modernisation began to escalate into industrial action.{{cite news | author = Mark Tran and agencies | title = Crozier hits out at striking postal workers | work = The Guardian | date = 9 October 2007 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/post/story/0,,2186926,00.html | access-date =11 November 2007 | location=London}} In mid October the CWU and Royal Mail agreed a resolution to the dispute.{{cite news | title=Mail deliveries 'still delayed' | work=London News | publisher=BBC News | date=9 November 2007 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7087036.stm | access-date=14 December 2008 }}

In December 2008, workers at mail centres affected by proposals to rationalise the number of mail centres (particularly in north west England) again voted for strike action, potentially affecting Christmas deliveries.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7783542.stm|title=Christmas post fears over strike|date=15 December 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=15 December 2008}} The action was postponed less than 24 hours before staff were due to walk out.{{cite news |title=Postal workers' strike called off |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7790595.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=2 October 2013}}

Localised strikes took place across the UK from June 2009 and grew in frequency throughout the summer. In September 2009 the CWU opened a national ballot for industrial action{{Cite news |last=Hope |first=Christopher |author2=Wallop, Harry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6194003/Royal-Mail-strike-already-national-as-one-in-eight-letters-fail-to-arrive.html |title=Royal Mail strike already 'national' as one in eight letters fail to arrive |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=17 September 2009 |access-date=17 April 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8259867.stm |title=Postal workers vote on strike |publisher=BBC News |date=17 September 2009 |access-date=12 September 2010}} over Royal Mail's failure to reach a national agreement covering protection of jobs, pay, terms and conditions and the cessation of managerial executive action. The ballot was passed in October, causing a number of two- and three-day strikes.{{cite news |last=Sturcke |first=James |date=8 October 2009 |title=Royal Mail workers vote for nationwide postal strike |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/oct/08/royal-mail-workers-nationwide-strike |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 November 2013}}

There were several strikes in 2022. They ended in July 2023 after workers agreed to a three-year pay deal. Seventy-six per cent of union members voted in favour of the agreement, which included a ten per cent salary increase and a one-off lump sum of five-hundred pounds, in a ballot with a sixty-seven per cent turnout.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-postal-workers-vote-accept-royal-mail-pay-deal-2023-07-11/|title=UK workers at Royal Mail accept pay deal, ending long dispute|publisher=Reuters|date=11 July 2023}}

Royal Mail Group have lost 59 employment tribunals since 2017{{Cite web|url=https://violationtrackeruk.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/royal-mail-group-plc|title=Violation Tracker UK}}

On 28 December 2024, the UK's longest serving postman, Robert Hudson, retired at the age of 76, after 60 years' service.{{cite news |last=Cottell|first=Hannah|date=30 December 2024|title=Britain's longest-serving Royal Mail postman delivers his last presents|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/longest-serving-postman-leyton-london-b2671494.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=30 December 2024}}

{{distinguish|1st Class Credit Union}}

Penny Post Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans co-operative established by a joint project with the CWU in 1996, as Royal Mail Wolverhampton and District Employees Credit Union, it became Royal Mail (West) Credit Union in 2000, before adopting the present name in 2001.[http://www.pennypostcu.com/content.asp?contenttype=General About us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219011551/http://pennypostcu.com/content.asp?contenttype=General |date=19 February 2015 }} Penny Post Credit Union (retrieved 7 March 2015) Based at the North West Midlands Mail Centre, it is a member of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited.[http://www.abcul.org/about/abcul-credit-unions Credit unions in membership of ABCUL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103045521/http://www.abcul.org/about/abcul-credit-unions |date=3 January 2015 }} Association of British Credit Unions (retrieved 1 November 2014)

The credit union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA. Ultimately, like the banks and building societies, members' savings are protected against business failure by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.[http://www.fscs.org.uk/uploaded_files/Publications/Brochures/Credit_Union_Guide.pdf Credit Union Guide] Financial Services Compensation Scheme (retrieved 2 April 2015)

• Chairman (IDS): Keith Williams (since May 2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.ipc.be/news-portal/general-news/2019/03/25/09/34/keith-williams-to-succeed-les-owen-as-chairman-of-royal-mail-in-may-2019|title=Keith Williams to succeed Les Owen as Chairman of Royal Mail in May 2019|website=International Post Corporation}}
• Group Chief Executive (IDS): Martin Seidenberg (since August 2023){{cite news |last1=Middleton |first1=Joe |title=Royal Mail owner appoints Martin Seidenberg as new chief executive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/royal-mail-owner-appoints-martin-seidenberg-as-new-chief-executive |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=20 July 2023}}
• Chief Executive (Royal Mail): Emma Gilthorpe (since May 2024){{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Alex |title=Royal Mail names senior Heathrow executive as next boss |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/02/royal-mail-heathrow-executive-next-ceo-emma-gilthorpe |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=2 April 2024}}

The position of chairman was established in 1969, after enactment of the Post Office Act 1969. Prior to this, the chairman's duties were performed by the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom.

• William Hall, 2nd Viscount Hall (1969–1970){{Cite web |title=Post Office: Private Office Papers: Papers of William Ryland |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17751}}
• Sir William Ryland (1971–1977)
• Sir William Barlow (1977–1980){{Cite web |title=Manufacturing chief William Barlow dies |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6f7eb93e-ab18-11e1-b675-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/6f7eb93e-ab18-11e1-b675-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription}}
• Sir Ron Dearing (1980–1987){{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/feb/23/obituary-lord-dearing-tuition-fees|title=Lord Dearing|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 February 2009|access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Sir Bryan Nicholson (1987–1992){{cite web|url=https://theorg.com/org/young-epilepsy/org-chart/bryan-nicholson|title=Bryan Nicholson|publisher=The Org|access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Sir Michael Heron (1993–1998){{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/sir-michael-heron-qs6lxgtzbnb|title=Sir Michael Heron|newspaper=The Times|date=10 July 2014| access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Neville Bain (1998–2002){{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12304129.beckett-delivers-post-office-chairman/|title=Beckett delivers Post Office chairman|date=4 March 1998|newspaper=Herald Scotland| access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Allan Leighton (2002–2008){{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2901477/Another-three-years-in-post-for-head-of-Royal-Mail.html|title=Another three years in post for head of Royal Mail|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 December 2004|access-date=15 April 2017}}
• Donald Brydon (2009–2015){{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/29/royal-mail-chairman-donald-brydon-to-step-down|title=Royal Mail Chairman to step down |work=The Guardian|date=29 January 2015|access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Peter Long (2015–2018){{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/09/19/royal-mail-chairman-peter-long-quits-focus-countrywide-rescue/|title=Royal Mail chairman Peter Long quits to focus on Countrywide rescue efforts|date=19 September 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=14 January 2024}}
• Les Owen (2018–2019)

{{hatnote|The position of chief executive was established in 1969, after enactment of the Post Office Act 1969. Prior to this, the chief executive's duties were performed by the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom.}}

• Sir William Ryland (1969–1977)
• Sir William Barlow (1977–1980)
• Sir Ron Dearing (1980–1987){{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/record?catid=70851&catln=3|title=Post Office: Private Office Papers: Papers of Ron Dearing|publisher=National Archives|access-date=9 January 2024}}
• Sir Bryan Nicholson (1987–1992){{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A116235600/AONE?u=googlescholar&sid=sitemap&xid=d6a1b1ff|title=Post Office to freeze letter prices as profits double|date=15 December 1992|newspaper=The Times|access-date=9 January 2024}}
• Bill Cockburn (1992–1995){{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/bill-cockburn|title=Bill Cockburn CBE TD|website=GOV.UK}}
• John Roberts (1995–2003){{Cite web |title=JOHN ROBERTS, CONSIGNIA CEO, TO RETIRE |date=13 June 2002 |url=https://postandparcel.info/6334/news/john-roberts-consignia-ceo-to-retire/}}{{Cite web |title=Ready to deliver change |author=Nicholas Bannister |work=The Guardian |date=3 November 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/nov/04/3}}
• Adam Crozier (2003–2010){{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3115098.stm | title=Profile: Adam Crozier | work=BBC News | date=17 September 2003 | access-date=28 January 2010}}
• Moya Greene (2010–2018){{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10175621.stm|title=Royal Mail names Moya Greene as new chief executive|publisher=BBC News|date=27 May 2010|access-date=27 May 2010}}
• Rico Back (2018–2020){{Cite web|date=20 April 2018|title=Rico Back to head Royal Mail|url=https://www.logisticsmanager.com/rico-back-head-royal-mail/|access-date=31 August 2020|website=Logistics Manager|language=en-GB}}
• Stuart Simpson (2020–2021) (interim){{cite news |last1=Jasper |first1=Christopher |title=Royal Mail Replaces CEO After Clash With Unions, Virus Hit

|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-15/royal-mail-chief-rico-back-steps-down-following-virus-hit |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=Bloomberg UK |date=15 May 2020}}

• Simon Thompson (2021–2023){{cite news |last1=Makortoff |first1=Kalyeena |title=Royal Mail appoints Simon Thompson as chief executive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/11/royal-mail-appoints-simon-thompson-chief-executive-ocado-nhs-test-and-trace |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=11 January 2021}}
• Martin Seidenberg (2023–2024) (interim){{cite news |last1=Middleton |first1=Joe |title=Royal Mail owner appoints Martin Seidenberg as new chief executive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/royal-mail-owner-appoints-martin-seidenberg-as-new-chief-executive |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=20 July 2023}}

Royal Mail is currently regulated by Ofcom, while consumer interests are represented by Citizens Advice. The Postal Services Act 2000 had set up Postcomm to regulate postal services, and Postwatch to represent consumer interests. The relationship between Postcomm and Postwatch was not always good, and in 2005, Postwatch took Postcomm to judicial review over its decision regarding rebates to late-paying customers.{{cite web |url=http://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/re-opening-the-post-postcomm-and-the-quality-of-mail-services-2/ |title=Re-opening the post:Postcomm and the quality of mail services |date=22 March 2006 |publisher=National Audit Office |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230324/http://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/re-opening-the-post-postcomm-and-the-quality-of-mail-services-2/ |url-status=dead }} Postwatch merged with Energywatch in 2008 to form Consumer Focus,{{cite news |title=Postwatch warns of turbulent times ahead for UK postal industry |work=News |publisher=Post & Parcel |date=25 September 2008 |url=https://postandparcel.info/22807/news/postwatch-warns-of-turbulent-times-ahead-for-uk-postal-industry/ |accessdate=4 March 2023}}{{cite web|title=Postwatch report for the 6 months 1 April 2008 to 30 September 2008 |work=Business and industry |publisher=UK Government |date=2 April 2009 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/postwatch-report-for-the-6-months-1-april-2008-to-30-september-2008 |accessdate=4 March 2023 }} while Postcomm was merged into Ofcom under the Postal Services Act 2011.{{cite book |title=Postal Services Commission annual report and accounts 2011–12 |publisher=The Stationery Office |date=31 March 2023 |location=London |pages=11 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/postal-services-commission |id=P002496996 |isbn=9780102979220 }} Consumer Focus later became Consumer Futures before being merged into the Citizens Advice Bureau in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/history-of-the-citizens-advice-service/ |title=History of the Citizens Advice service |publisher=Citizens Advice |access-date=2015-11-01 |archive-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118040555/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/history-of-the-citizens-advice-service/ |url-status=dead }}

Royal Mail has, in some quarters, a poor reputation for losing mail despite its claims that more than 99.93% of mail arrives safely and in 2006 was fined £11.7 million due to the amount of mail lost, stolen or damaged.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/royal-mail-fined-pound117m-over-missing-post-466166.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212134614/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/royal-mail-fined-pound117m-over-missing-post-466166.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2009 |title=Royal Mail fined £11.7m over missing post |work=The Independent |access-date=23 October 2009 |last=Jones |first=Alan |date=10 February 2006 }} In the first three months of 2011, around 120,000 letters were lost.{{cite news |title=Complaints to Royal Mail over 'lost' letters rise by more than a third |last=Wardrop |first=Murray |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/8643804/Complaints-to-Royal-Mail-over-lost-letters-rise-by-more-than-a-third.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=26 August 2013}}

In July 2012 Ofcom consulted on a scheme proposed by Royal Mail to alter its delivery obligations to allow larger postal items to be left with neighbours rather than returning them to a Royal Mail office to await collection. The scheme was presented as offering consumers greater choice for receiving mail when not at home, that is if Royal Mail deliver items as per their stated contractual obligations and was said to follow Royal Mail research from a 'delivery to neighbour' trial across six areas of the UK that showed widespread consumer satisfaction.{{cite web|title=Ofcom consults on Royal Mail's 'delivery to neighbour' scheme|url=http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2012/07/ofcom-consults-on-royal-mail%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98delivery-to-neighbour%E2%80%99-scheme/|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=12 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227235057/http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2012/07/ofcom-consults-on-royal-mail%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98delivery-to-neighbour%E2%80%99-scheme/|archive-date=27 December 2012}} In a statement dated 27 September 2012, Ofcom announced it would approve the scheme after noting that more goods were being purchased over the internet and that Royal Mail's competitors were permitted to leave undelivered items with neighbours.{{cite web|title=Royal Mail – roll out of Delivery to Neighbour scheme – Statement|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/royal-mail-delivery-neighbour/statement|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=12 January 2013}} People who do not wish to have parcels left with neighbours, or to receive those of others, can opt out by displaying a free opt-out sticker near their letterbox. Royal Mail remains liable for undeliverable items until they are received by the addressee or returned to sender.{{cite web|title=Ofcom allows Royal Mail's 'delivery to neighbour' scheme|url=http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/09/27/ofcom-allows-royal-mail%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98delivery-to-neighbour%E2%80%99-scheme/|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=12 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223084451/http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/09/27/ofcom-allows-royal-mail%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98delivery-to-neighbour%e2%80%99-scheme/|archive-date=23 December 2012}}

Ofcom suggested in October 2012 that the first and second class post systems could be replaced by a single class. The new class would be set at a higher price than the current second class, but would be delivered in a shorter time-frame.{{cite news |title=First and second class post could be scrapped, consultation suggests |last=Hall |first=James |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9612898/First-and-second-class-post-could-be-scrapped-consultation-suggests.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=17 October 2012 |access-date=26 August 2013}}

Royal Mail was fined £50 million by Ofcom in 2018 for breach of European Union competition law. Ofcom found that Royal Mail had abused its dominant position in 2014 in the delivery of letters.{{cite web|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/royal-mail-whistl-competition-law |title=Royal Mail fined £50m for breaking competition law |publisher=Ofcom |date=14 August 2018 |access-date=19 April 2020}}

As of December 2023, Royal Mail has been fined a total of £58,303,936 for regulatory breaches according to the Violation Tracker UK website.

The targets are delivering 93% of First Class post the next working day, and delivering 98.5% of Second Class post within three working days.{{cite web|publisher=Parcel and Post Technology|url=https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/operations/royal-mail-exceeds-quality-of-service-targets.html|title=Royal Mail exceeds quality of service targets|date=27 August 2019}}

File:Royal Mail Northwest Midlands Mail Centre - geograph.org.uk - 272563.jpg

File:Royal Mail's Southampton Mail Centre, Eastleigh - geograph.org.uk - 502096.jpg

Royal Mail operates a network of 37 mail centres (as of 2019).{{cite web|url=https://www.royalmailgroup.com/media/10705/fy-2018-19-results-and-strategy-presentation.pdf|title= Full Year 2018–19 Results and Strategy Presentation|website=royalmailgroup.com/en/investors/full-year-results-2018-19/ |access-date=24 August 2019}} Each mail centre serves a large geographically defined area of the UK and together they form the backbone network of the mail distribution operation. Mail is collected and brought to one of the mail centres. Mail is exchanged between the mail centres and then forwarded to one of 1,356 delivery offices, from where the final delivery is made.{{cite web |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr12/UK_6.pdf |title=The Communications Market 2012 |website=Stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk |access-date=21 January 2016 |archive-date=9 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909011001/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr12/UK_6.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Mail from third-party "downstream access" providers is also brought to the mail centres for Royal Mail to carry out the final delivery. Ofcom restricts the prices at which Royal Mail sell this downstream access to third-party companies.{{Cite web | url=http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/price-control.html | title=Price control 2006–2010 | publisher=Postal Services Commission | accessdate=19 October 2009 | url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120080944/http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/price-control.html | archivedate=20 November 2008 }}

As part of the sorting process, mail is collected from pillar boxes, Post Office branches and businesses, and brought to the regional mail centre. The process is divided into two parts. The 'outward' sorting identifies mail for delivery in the mail centre geographic area, which is retained, and mail intended for other mail centres, which is dispatched. The 'inward' sorting forwards mail received from other centres to the relevant delivery offices within the mail centre area.

Integrated mail processing (IMP) is the method that Royal Mail uses to sort the mail (in bulk) before delivery and has been implementing the technology since 1999.{{cite news|last1=Samuels|first1=Mark|title=Sorted: Royal Mail's wonder hub|url=https://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/analysis/1832677/sorted-royal-mails-wonder-hub|access-date=23 January 2018|work=Computing|date=27 February 2004|language=en}} The system works by automated optical character recognition of postcodes. Integrated mail processors scan the front and back of an envelope and translate addresses into machine-readable code. Letters are given a fluorescent orange barcode that represents the address. The barcode follows the RM4SCC pattern. Per mail item there are over 250 types of information that are collected from mail class to indicia type. Some scanning and detection features have been removed as they have been superseded by newer technology. This is known as the IMP Extension of Life (EoL) program.{{cite book|title=Mail Technology: Evolution to E-Revolution|date=2001|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781860583278}}{{cite web|title=Integrated Mail Processing|url=https://learningroyalmail.wordpress.com/systems/|website=Royal Mail E-learning Guide|date=8 May 2014|access-date=23 January 2018}}

Royal Mail operates 66 intelligent letter sorting machines (ILSMs) in the UK, which were installed in the mid-1980s and early 1990s to improve the speed and efficiency of sorting and delivering mail. These process more than 36,000 items per hour and were part of their ongoing modernisation programme that commenced in the early 1980s.{{cite web|title=Intelligent letter sorting machines (ILSMs)|url=http://500years.royalmailgroup.com/gallery/intelligent-letter-sorting-machines-ilsms/|website=500 Years of Royal Mail|publisher=Royal Mail Group|access-date=23 January 2018|language=en|archive-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071017/http://500years.royalmailgroup.com/gallery/intelligent-letter-sorting-machines-ilsms/|url-status=dead}}

Royal Mail operates an international-mail sorting centre, in Langley, Berkshire close to Heathrow Airport, called the Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre, which handles all international airmail arriving into and leaving the United Kingdom, plus some container- and road-transported mail.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/21/uk.post|title=Cost of hi-tech mail office 'out of control'|work=The Guardian|date=21 May 2003|access-date=17 March 2018}}

{{as of|March 2021}}, the [39] operational mail centres (divided into Royal Mail regions) were:{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/130509/response/314722/attach/4/Mail%20Centre%20Addresses.pdf|title=Current Mail Centre Addresses|date=19 September 2012|publisher=Royal Mail|access-date=17 March 2018}}

• East [7]: Chelmsford, Norwich, Nottingham, Peterborough, Romford, Sheffield, South Midlands (Northampton)
• West [6]: Birmingham, Chester, Manchester, North West Midlands (Wolverhampton), Preston, Warrington
• South East [7]: Croydon, Gatwick (Crawley), Greenford, Home Counties North (Hemel Hempstead), Jubilee (Hounslow), Medway (Rochester), London Central (Mount Pleasant)
• South West [11]: Bristol, Cardiff, Dorset (Poole), Exeter, Gloucester, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, Thames Valley (Swindon), Truro
• North [8]: Aberdeen, Inverness, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Northern Ireland (Newtownabbey), Tyneside/Newcastle (Gateshead)

Mail Centres in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are streamlined into the Royal Mail's domestic network.

The number of mail centres has been declining as part of the Mail Centre Rationalisation Programme. In 2008, there were 69 mail centres and in 2010 there were 64. It was anticipated that around half of these could be closed by 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12812295|title=Royal Mail set to cut 1,700 jobs|work=BBC News|date=21 March 2011}} Oldham and Stockport along with Oxford and Reading mail centres all closed in 2009 and Bolton, Crewe, Liverpool, Northampton, Coventry and Milton Keynes were closed in 2010. Farnborough, Watford and Stevenage were closed in 2011. Hemel Hempstead, Southend, Worcester were closed in 2012. Dartford, Tonbridge, Maidstone and Canterbury were closed in 2012 but replaced by a new mail centre in Rochester.{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mail_centre_closures|title=Mail Centre Closures – a Freedom of Information request to Royal Mail Group Limited|date=14 July 2012|website=WhatDoTheyKnow}} The East London and South London mail centres were closed during summer 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.myroyalmail.com/sites/default/files/courier/0716a905db154196b5652d3a53db066c.pdf|title=The Courier|date=1 December 2011|publisher=Royal Mail|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=16 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616041700/http://www.myroyalmail.com/sites/default/files/courier/0716a905db154196b5652d3a53db066c.pdf|url-status=dead}}

In 2013 and 2014, a further eight mail centres were planned to be closed.{{cite web|url=https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/national/2013/05/quick-change|title=Quick change|website=myroyalmail|access-date=24 August 2019|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824212421/https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/national/2013/05/quick-change|url-status=dead}} The old mail centres in Northampton, Coventry and Milton Keynes were replaced with the new South Midlands mail centre in Northampton covering Warwickshire, Coventry, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/hundreds-of-royal-mail-workers-in-northampton-could-go-on-strike-1-5214062|title=Hundreds of Royal Mail workers in Northampton could go on strike|website=www.northamptonchron.co.uk|access-date=9 June 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816045213/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/hundreds-of-royal-mail-workers-in-northampton-could-go-on-strike-1-5214062|url-status=dead}} The South Midlands Mail Centre is the largest in the UK.

As of 2020 there are seven Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) across the country. They are responsible for handling large pre-sorted mailings from business customers.{{cite web|url=https://www.royalmailtechnical.com/Glossary_and_Contacts_Regional_Distribution_Centre.cfm |title=Royal Mail Technical |publisher=Royal Mail Technical |access-date=19 April 2020}}

• Scottish Distribution Centre (Wishaw)
• Princess Royal Distribution Centre (London)
• National Distribution Centre (Northampton)
• South West Distribution Centre (Bristol)
• North West Distribution Centre (Warrington)
• Yorkshire Distribution Centre (Normanton)
• Northern Ireland Distribution Centre (Newtownabbey)

Royal Mail is famous for its custom load-carrying bicycles (with the rack and basket built into the frame), made by Pashley Cycles since 1971. Since 2000, old delivery bicycles have been shipped to Africa by the charity Re~Cycle; over 8,000 had been donated by 2004.{{cite news |title=Royal Mail swaps bikes for guns |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4134443.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=30 December 2004 |access-date=1 October 2013}} In 2009, Royal Mail announced it was beginning to phase out bicycle deliveries, to be replaced with more push-trolleys and vans. A spokesman said that they would continue to use bicycles on some rural routes, and that there was no plan to phase out bicycles completely.{{cite news |last=Leach |first=Ben |date=23 August 2009 |title=Royal Mail to phase out cycling postmen |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6077900/Royal-Mail-to-phase-out-cycling-postmen.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=18 November 2013}}

In addition to running a large number of road vehicles, Royal Mail uses trains, a ship and some aircraft, with an air hub at East Midlands Airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/emacargo.nsf/Content/Customer_RoyalMail |title=Royal Mail |year=2013 |publisher=East Midlands Airport |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-date=8 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908135829/http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/emacargo.nsf/Content/Customer_RoyalMail |url-status=dead }} Dedicated night mail flights are operated by Titan Airways for Royal Mail between East Midlands Airport and Bournemouth Airport and between Exeter International Airport and London Stansted Airport. One Boeing 737-3Y0 was flown in full Royal Mail livery.{{cite web| url=http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0896455/L/| title=G-ZAPV |publisher=Airliners.net| access-date=25 April 2007}} In June 2013, Royal Mail confirmed it would extend Titan Airways' contract to operate night flights from Stansted Airport, from January 2014 to January 2017, introducing new routes to Edinburgh and Belfast using three Boeing 737s.{{cite web |url=http://www.emeraldmedia.co.uk/5/news/1027/titan-airways-selected-to-operate-royal-mail-s-night-mail-service/ |title=Titan Airways selected to operate Royal Mail's night mail service |date=25 June 2013 |access-date=18 November 2013}} The new contract called for the replacement of the British Aerospace 146-200QC (Quick Change) aircraft in favour of a standard Boeing 737 fleet,{{cite web |url=http://www.titan-airways.com/news/royal-mail-operation-extension.html |title=Royal Mail Operation Extension |date=17 June 2013 |publisher=Titan Airways |access-date=17 November 2013}} and the type was withdrawn by Titan Airways in November 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.titan-airways.com/news/end-of-the-bae-era.html |title=End of the BAe Era |date=18 November 2013 |publisher=Titan Airways |access-date=18 November 2013}}

In 2021 Royal Mail announced plans to trial using a drone between the UK mainland and St Mary's airport, Isles of Scilly. The twin-engine vehicle is manufactured in the UK by the Windracers and is capable of carrying 100 kg of mail, which is the same weight as a typical delivery round. It is able to fly in poor weather conditions, including fog, and will be out of sight of any operator during the 70-mile journey. Vertical take-off and landing drones will take parcels between the islands in the archipelago. Royal Mail delivered its first parcel using a drone in December 2020 when a package was sent to a remote lighthouse on Scotland's Isle of Mull.{{Cite web|last=Partridge|first=Joanna|date=10 May 2021|title=Royal Mail to deliver to Scilly Isles by drone in first UK trial of its kind|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/10/royal-mail-to-deliver-to-scilly-isles-by-drone-in-first-uk-trial-of-its-kind|access-date=10 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} In Scotland, it partnered with Skyports for postal services using drones.{{cite news |last1=Tomusk |first1=Karl |title=Royal Mail delivers drone trials |url=https://placetech.net/news/royal-mail-delivers-drone-trials/ |work=PlaceTech |date=11 May 2021}}

The RMS St. Helena was a cargo and passenger ship that served the British overseas territory of Saint Helena. It sailed between Cape Town, Saint Helena and Ascension Island.{{cite web |url=http://rms-st-helena.com/where-we-go/ |title=Where We Go |year=2013 |publisher=Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=14 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814030601/http://rms-st-helena.com/where-we-go/ |url-status=dead }} It was one of only two Royal Mail Ships in service, alongside the Queen Mary 2, although it did not belong to Royal Mail Group.{{cite news|last=Hancock |first=Simon |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8465785.stm?ls |title=Life on one of the world's most remote islands |publisher=BBC News |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=12 September 2010}}

Royal Mail operated the London Post Office Railway, a network of driverless trains running on a private underground track, from 1927 until it closed it in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/301893.Final_delivery_for_Mail_Rail/ |title=Final delivery for Mail Rail |publisher=This Is Local London |access-date=5 July 2017 |date=30 May 2003 }}

File:BLW Morris Minor M8 Post Office van.jpg|Historic vehicle fleet

File:Axminster Post office, Axminster, Devon June 2011 - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg|Royal Mail Ford Transit van outside the Axminster post office

File:Hugh llewelyn 325 002 (6520031505).jpg|A British Rail Class 325 mail train

File:Royal mail van.jpg|Royal Mail Peugeot Expert van in London

File:Clapham Junction - geograph.org.uk - 581730.jpg|A British Rail Class 73 with a parcels van and carriages under British Rail carrying the mail in 1986 through Clapham Junction

File:Royal mail jet jersey airport.JPG|Boeing 737 in Royal Mail livery at Jersey Airport.

British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have their own independent postal systems. (See List of postal entities.) Though served by independent operators, the three Crown Dependencies use British postcodes in co-operation with Royal Mail; each dependency has its own postal area. The same prices are charged by the four operators for delivery throughout their collective area, though delivery times vary, and UK mail to the Channel Islands must clear customs.{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/I-need-advice-sending-mail-to-the-Channel-Islands-and-Isle-of-Man|title=Sending mail to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man|publisher=royalmail.com|access-date=21 March 2015}}

{{Infobox COA wide

| name = Royal Mail Group Limited

| image = Post_Office_Coat_of_Arms.svg

| year_adopted = 1981

| crest = A lion sejant grasping in its dexter forepaw a caduceus in pale, Gold.

| escutcheon = Gules, billetty bendwise Argent and in fess four bezants

| supporters = Upon a compartment of grass Vert bisected palewise by water barry wavy Argent and Azure

are set for supporters on either side a pegasus Or crowned with an ancient crown and gorged with a collar Azure charged of four bezants.

| motto = CURA FIDE STUDIO{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Post_Office_Corporation |access-date=22 February 2023 |title='Post Office Corporation' |date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223141414/https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Post_Office_Corporation |archive-date=23 February 2023}}

}}

When the Post Office ceased to be a government department, it was given its own coat of arms (issued in 1970),{{cite web |title=Heraldry Society of Scotland's post |url=https://www.facebook.com/HeraldrySocietyofScotland/posts/the-public-register-of-all-arms-and-bearings-in-scotland-contains-the-results-of/961808350684011/ |website=Facebook |access-date=15 February 2025}} which incorporated colours associated with the Royal Mail (red) and Post Office Telecommunications (yellow): the latter being represented in particular by a "barrulet wavy or" traversing both the red shield and the red collars (worn by the pegasus supporters). A phoenix crest alluded to the new corporation having been born out of its predecessor (the GPO); the caduceus in its beak stood for swift communications.

Just over ten years later, after British Telecom was separated from the Post Office, a new grant of arms was made: the telecommunications references were removed from the blazon, with the "barrulet wavy" being replaced by gold bezants (to represent the Girobank, whose colour (blue) was also introduced). The phoenix was also replaced, by a lion.

These arms were registered as a trademark in 1986, and are currently owned by Royal Mail Group Limited.{{cite web |title=CURA FIDE STUDIO United Kingdom Trademark Information |url=https://www.trademarkelite.com/uk/trademark/trademark-detail/UK00001292797/CURA-FIDE-STUDIO |website=TrademarkElite |access-date=15 February 2025}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book |last=Browne |first=Christopher |year=1993 |title = Getting the Message: The Story of the British Post Office |publisher=Alan Sutton |isbn = 0-7509-0351-1 }}
• {{Cite book |last=Campbell-Smith |first=Duncan |year=2011 |title = Masters of the Post: The Authorized History of the Royal Mail|publisher=Penguin Books |isbn = 978-0-241-95766-0 }}
• Tombs, R. C. (1899). The Bristol Royal Mail. Post, Telegraph, and Telephone. Arrowsmith, Bristol.
• A brief history of the Post Office – A GPO public relations publication 1965

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://www.royalmail.com/}}
• [https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en corporate website]

{{UK postal system}}

{{Postal administrations of Europe}}

{{Authority control}}

United K

Category:Postal system of the United Kingdom

Category:Logistics companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Organisations based in London with royal patronage

Category:1516 establishments in England

Category:Organizations established in the 1510s

Category:Companies based in the City of London

Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom