Royal Mail Logo

Royal Mail LogoRoyal Mail Logo PNG

The Royal Mail logo personifies royal dignity and impeccable quality of service. Combining a rich history with a modern approach to customer service makes the emblem recognizable and the mail popular.

Royal Mail: Brand overview

Founded:1516
Founder:King Henry VIII
Headquarters:
London, England, UK
Website:royalmail.com
The name Royal Mail came about for a reason: it was once really the royal postal service until Charles I made it available to the public. This happened in 1635, almost 120 years after the first man took over as postmaster at Henry VIII’s court. In the 21st century, the national postal operator, which operated most of the time as a state corporation, became private. The change in its structure is associated with a law passed in 2011.

Meaning and History

Royal Mail Logo History

Royal Mail has had a huge number of logos in its more than 500 years of history. This is one of the company’s main legacies, as the classic design has passed through the centuries. There are no significant differences between the options from different eras, which makes the brand truly recognizable. The only exception is the short period between 2001 and 2002 when the name Consignia was used.

What is Royal Mail?

It is the main postal service in the UK. It appeared in 1516 and was created by the decision of King Henry VIII. It has now grown to a national and international operator with 15,000 offices across the country.

1974 – 1989

Royal Mail Logo 1974-1989

In 1974, the emblem appeared in the form of a red rectangle with three elements. The right half was occupied by the yellow inscription “Royal Mail.” In the upper left corner was the crown of St. Edwards, symbolizing the sovereignty of the ruler. And right below it was the abbreviation “EIIR.” To those who don’t know about the existence of Royal Cypher, it might seem like a simple set of letters. This is an abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth II. The company has always used the initials of the reigning monarch to decorate its mailboxes. This tradition at some point moved to logos.

1989 – 2001

Royal Mail Logo 1989-2001

The end of the 1980s made new changes to the brand identity. Royal Mail owners have decided not to use the ‘EIIR’ acronym anymore due to a title dispute over the current queen. The fact is that Elizabeth I occupied the throne only in the Kingdom of England, and in Scotland, she was not. Therefore, the Scottish nationalists demanded to call the current Elizabeth first and smashed mailboxes with the initials “EIIR.”

The name of the postal service has moved to a separate red rectangle, located horizontally. It intersected with a horizontal white quadrangle, which was framed in red. The crown took pride of place at the top.

2001 – 2002

Consignia Logo 2001-2002

It was a short period when the company was called Consignia. The logo contained her new name in blue and a three-crescent pattern. One curved line was green, the second was dark red, and the third was blue.

2002 – today

Royal Mail Logo 2002-present

In 2002, a rebranding took place, which returned everything to its place. The Postal Service has regained the recognizable Royal Mail name and its traditional two-rectangle and crown logo. This option is no different from what it was in 1989-2001.

Royal Mail: Interesting Facts

Royal Mail is a historic postal service in the UK with a history stretching over 500 years. Let’s dive into the key points:

  1. Beginning: In 1516, Henry VIII created the Royal Mail by naming Sir Brian Tuke as the first “Master of the Posts,” starting an organized postal system in England mainly for government use.
  2. To the Public: By 1635, Charles I made the postal service available to everyone, setting up a network for secure, nationwide communication, which changed how people and businesses interacted.
  3. Penny Post: In 1840, Royal Mail introduced the Penny Black, the first adhesive stamp, along with a flat rate for postage. This made mailing letters affordable and drastically increased mail volume.
  4. Red Pillar Boxes: The iconic red pillar mailboxes first appeared in 1852. Initially green, they turned red in 1874 for better visibility and have since become a British symbol.
  5. Transport Fleet: Royal Mail has one of the UK’s largest vehicle fleets, including vans, trucks, and bikes. For sustainability, it is moving towards electric vehicles.
  6. Rail and Air Services: Royal Mail once used Travelling Post Offices on trains for quicker mail sorting and delivery and has used planes for faster international shipping.
  7. War Time Role: During both World Wars, Royal Mail was essential in keeping soldiers in touch with home, delivering millions of letters and parcels to the front lines.
  8. Going Private: In 2013, Royal Mail was privatized and listed on the London Stock Exchange, starting a new phase as a private company.
  9. Keeping Up with Time: Always evolving, Royal Mail has embraced technology and innovation like automated sorting and online tracking to stay competitive in logistics and e-commerce.
  10. Cultural Impact: With its long history, Royal Mail has become intertwined with the UK’s story, celebrated through landmarks like the red postboxes and the Royal Mail Museum & Archive.

Royal Mail has transitioned from a government-run service to a modern postal and logistics provider, maintaining its crucial role in connecting people and businesses through the centuries.

Font and Colors

Royal Mail Emblem

The unifying element of all Royal Mail logos is the crown. It is revealed that she is named after St. Edwards and has been used since the 13th century for the formal procedure for adopting power by the monarch. Moreover, you can see it in the Jewel House, where it is now kept and on the United Kingdom’s emblem, in the Royal Cypher, on the symbol of the British Army, and other national heraldic symbols.

The “Royal Mail” lettering is sans serif, which is all there is to say about the font, as it doesn’t have a specific name. Each letter consists of two parallel lines, which means it is a modified typeface designed specifically for the postal service.

Royal Mail Symbol

The dark red, which is now used in large numbers, matches the General Post Office palette adopted during the Second World War. In addition to it, the logo has different shades of yellow and gray, although there are also white details. The individual elements of the crown are decorated with a gradient.

Royal Mail color codes

Neon RedHex color:#ff221d
RGB:255 34 29
CMYK:0 87 89 0
Pantone:PMS Bright Red C
Golden YellowHex color:#f8df00
RGB:248 223 0
CMYK:0 10 100 3
Pantone:PMS 107 C

What does the Royal Mail logo mean?

The Royal Mail logo denotes a royal operator, which was originally a postal service at the court of monarchs – the highest authority in Great Britain. In confirmation, it depicts the crown of St. Edwards, used in the 13th century.

What does the Royal Mail logo look like?

It contains a title composed of double yellow letters on a red background. It also depicts a crown: it was crowned with it to the throne in the 13th century. She is in a white geometric shape with a thin red border. All elements are arranged in rectangles.

Can I use the Royal Mail logo?

It is possible, but only after the request is approved by the Royal Mail service and the corresponding permission has been obtained from it.

What Color is Royal Mail red?

The Royal Mail logo uses a vibrant shade of red – Hex # da202a. It was approved in 1874 and was chosen because it is better visible in dense fog than others – because of the longest color wavelength.