For the first time in 30 years, the Royal Mail is giving schoolchildren the chance to design its Christmas stamps. Primary school children aged four to eleven years are being invited to take part to create the artwork for official stamps for Christmas 2013.
The competition’s theme is “What does the Christmas season mean to you?” The designs can be religious or secular.
Two winning pictures – one to appear on a 1st Class stamp and the other on a 2nd Class stamp – will be picked from 120 regional finalists. Both winning designs will have to be approved by the Queen.
Only twice before have children’s designs been used on Christmas stamps: 1966, the year the first Christmas stamps were issued in the UK, and 1981. The search for the winning designs was launched by children’s author and illustrator Lauren Child, creator of the Charlie and Lola characters.
All entries have to be received by the closing date of 19 July. Winners will be announced in the autumn. For more information, visit:
www.royalmail.com/designastamp
