Canada Post Releases First Canadian Stamp Featuring King Charles III as Monarch

Canada Post unveiled the country’s first definitive stamp featuring King Charles III at a Canadian ceremony marking the monarch’s coronation, hosted by Canadian Heritage on May 6th.

Canada Post

This marks the first time the King has appeared on a Canadian stamp. Canada Post’s tradition of issuing definitive stamps featuring Canadian sovereigns dates back over 170 years, with the first pre-Confederation stamp featuring Queen Victoria.

King Charles III ascended to the throne on September 8, 2022, following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The King has been the heir apparent since 1951 and was created Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth II at the age of nine. He has made numerous visits to Canada since his first official tour in 1970, including his most recent trip in 2022 as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.

Canada Post

The King’s definitive stamp, designed by Paprika, features a portrait of the monarch as the Prince of Wales captured by photographer Alan Shawcross. The issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover, which displays a photograph of King Charles III in Ottawa during his 2022 Royal Tour taken by Canadian photographer Justin Tang. The stamp will be issued today, with the cancel site in Ottawa.

Unlike commemorative stamps that celebrate a special place, event, person, or theme and are printed in limited quantities, definitive stamps are part of a regular issue of stamps designed to serve everyday needs and are issued in indefinite quantities.