Royalty and Printing: Proclamations, Coronations and Commemorative Print

Long before royal events were broadcast, they were printed — and the monarchy remains one of the oldest continuous users of print in the country, from a 1485 royal appointment to a 2023 coronation.

The King's Printer

The role of King's Printer dates to 1485, under Henry VII. Royal proclamations were printed as broadsides in editions running to a thousand copies or more, sent out to sheriffs across the country and posted publicly — the fastest way the Crown had to reach a population that couldn't otherwise be addressed directly.

A Portrait on Every Letter

The Penny Black, introduced in 1840, put an engraved portrait of Queen Victoria into more hands than almost any print run before it — on every single letter sent under the new postal system. It more than doubled the number of letters posted in Britain within its first year, making it as much a communications revolution as a postal one.

Print for Every Royal Occasion

Coronations, jubilees and royal weddings have generated their own wave of print for well over a century: commemorative books, special newspaper editions, official portraits, stamps and souvenirs, produced at a scale that scales up and down with how significant the occasion is.

Case Study: The 2023 Coronation

The coronation of Charles III on 6 May 2023 followed the same pattern in modern form: the Royal Collection Trust produced official commemorative chinaware made in Stoke-on-Trent, a commemorative tea towel printed in Northern Ireland, and printed bookmarks and programmes — a reminder that even a thoroughly modern, broadcast royal event still generates a wave of printed commemorative material alongside it.

Where This Connects to What We Print

Local communities marking royal and national occasions, jubilee street parties, commemorative community events, still need banners, printed programmes and signage — exactly what our large format & signage and business stationery & publications services cover.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the role of King's Printer?

The role dates to 1485, under Henry VII, making royal print one of the oldest continuous printing traditions in the country.

What was the significance of the Penny Black?

Introduced in 1840, it put Queen Victoria's engraved portrait on every letter sent under the new postal system and more than doubled the number of letters posted in its first year.

What commemorative print was produced for the 2023 coronation?

Official commemorative chinaware, a printed tea towel, and bookmarks and programmes were produced by the Royal Collection Trust and licensed manufacturers.

Browse our large format & signage printing page, or see the History of the Printing Press for the story behind print itself.