Royal Mail is a British postal service and courier company that was originally established in 1516. It is one of the oldest and most well-known postal services in the world, and has been a vital part of the UK's communication infrastructure for centuries. The company's subsidiary, Royal Mail Group Limited, operates the brand.
In recent years, Royal Mail has been in the news for a number of reasons. One of the most significant has been the ongoing dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over pay, jobs, and conditions. This has led to a number of strikes and disruptions to postal services across the UK.
Royal Mail has also been criticised for failing to meet delivery targets for first and second class mail, and for prioritising parcels over letters, which has led to accusations of breaching its legal obligations under the Universal Service Obligation (USO).
In addition, Royal Mail has been the victim of a cyber attack by the LockBit group, which caused disruption to its services and led to the company rejecting a demand for an $80m ransom. The attack has highlighted the growing threat of cyber crime to businesses and organisations around the world.
Royal Mail issues Warhammer stamps to celebrate 40th anniversary
Royal Mail has issued a set of stamps to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Warhammer, one of Britain's most popular miniature wargames.
Sony considers partial spinoff of financial business
Sony is considering a partial spinoff of its financial business, which includes life insurance and banking, within the next two to three years, while retaining a 20% stake. The move comes as Sony doubles down on entertainment and image sensors, and seeks to balance the capital requirements of its financial business with investment in other growth areas.
Royal Mail agrees on pay and working practices with Communication Workers Union
Royal Mail has agreed on a deal with the Communication Workers Union on pay and working practices.
Royal Mail reports £1bn loss due to strikes and cyber attack
Royal Mail has reported a loss of £1bn for the year to March 26, due to the impact of industrial action and a cyber attack in January.
Royal Mail faces investigation over missed delivery targets
Royal Mail is being investigated by Ofcom over its failure to meet delivery targets for first and second class mail and deliveries. The company missed its 93% target for first-class mail, with only 73.7% of post arriving within one working day. Ofcom will examine whether there were any exceptional events beyond the company's control that may have explained why it missed its targets. A fine may be imposed if Royal Mail does not provide a satisfactory explanation.
Royal Mail unveils commemorative stamps and postboxes for King Charles III's coronation
Royal Mail has released four commemorative stamps and unveiled four specially decorated postboxes across the UK to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The stamps depict the coronation, diversity and community, the Commonwealth, and sustainability, and are based on newly-commissioned wood engravings by artist Andrew Davidson. The postboxes are situated in Westminster, central London; Edinburgh; Cardiff; and Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, and display the occasion's official emblem. Royal Mail is also applying for a special postmark to be stamped on letters in honour of the royal occasion.
Royal Mail and union leaders reach initial agreement over pay and conditions
Royal Mail and the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) have reached an initial agreement over pay and employment terms, which will be considered by the union's executive before being voted on by members.
Royal Mail and Communication Workers' Union reach agreement in principle
Royal Mail and the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) have reached a negotiators' agreement in principle after almost a year of talks over pay, jobs and conditions.
Royal Mail talks with union collapse
Talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have ended without agreement, raising the prospect of further strikes disrupting the UK's letter and parcel deliveries.
Royal Mail apologises for April Fools' joke about pay rise
Royal Mail has apologised for an April Fools' joke in which staff at a Gloucester branch were promised a pay rise.
King Charles III's portrait appears on new UK stamps
New stamps featuring King Charles III's portrait have gone on sale in the UK, replacing those featuring his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Royal Mail referred to Ofcom for failing to deliver letters six days a week
Royal Mail has been referred to Ofcom by MPs for failing to deliver letters across the country six days a week, which is required by law. The company was accused of having "systematically failed to deliver" its universal service obligation in a report by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee. The report also suggested Royal Mail chief executive Simon Thompson was "not wholly accurate" in the answers given during evidence sessions. Royal Mail could face a fine of around £1 million if Ofcom takes enforcement action.
Royal Mail to increase stamp prices above £1 for the first time
Royal Mail has announced that the cost of a first class stamp will rise to £1.10 from 3 April, breaking the £1 barrier for the first time. The price of a second class stamp will also go up by 7p to 75p. The increases were deemed necessary to ensure the "one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service remains sustainable".
Liverpool street without post for six months after dog attack
Royal Mail has suspended deliveries to a street in Liverpool for six months after a postman was bitten by a dog.
Royal Mail unveils final set of stamps featuring the late Queen's silhouette
The Royal Mail has unveiled the final set of stamps featuring the late Queen's silhouette, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the steam locomotive the Flying Scotsman.
Queen Victoria's sketchbook to be reunited with her artworks
A sketchbook containing drawings by Queen Victoria has been reunited with many of her other artworks.
Royal Mail accused of using digital tracking devices to pressure postal workers
Royal Mail has been accused of using digital tracking devices to pressure postal workers to work faster, with the information being used in breach of the delivery company's policy.
Royal Mail resumes international deliveries after cyber attack
Royal Mail has resumed international deliveries after a cyber attack caused disruption to its services.
Royal Mail workers vote to continue strikes over pay, jobs and conditions
Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to continue with a campaign of industrial action in a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Royal Mail rejects $80m ransom demand from LockBit hackers
Royal Mail has been battling a ransomware attack since January, when the LockBit group hacked into its software and blocked international shipments by encrypting files crucial to the company's operations. The hackers demanded $80m in exchange for decrypting the files, but Royal Mail rejected the demand. The LockBit group threatened to publish all available data if the ransom was not paid, but Royal Mail said that the data allegedly obtained from its network did not contain any financial information or other sensitive customer information.
King Charles III becomes first British monarch to feature on stamps without a crown
New stamps featuring King Charles III have been unveiled by the Royal Mail, with the monarch becoming the first in British history to be featured on postal stamps without a crown. The design features a side profile of the King's head and neck, created by sculptor Martin Jennings, and is a simple, unadorned image with no embellishment.
Postal workers' strike called off after legal challenge
Postal workers' planned two-day strike has been called off after Royal Mail legally challenged the industrial action on grounds to do with the reasons the strikes had been called, citing what it described as a "legal error".
JD Sports and Arnold Clark suffer major data breaches
JD Sports and Arnold Clark have both suffered major data breaches, potentially exposing the personal information of millions of customers.
Royal Mail's poor performance over Christmas leads to delayed post and missed appointments
A survey by Citizens Advice found that 60% of UK adults experienced delayed post over Christmas, with some still receiving festive cards well into the new year. Almost a quarter of people turned to more expensive ways of sending mail, such as Special Delivery Guaranteed, during Christmas 2022. An estimated 31 million people were hit by letter delays over Christmas as Royal Mail let consumers down for a third year running. Some 11% missed an important document, such as an insurance letter or legal document, and 8% missed a health appointment. The dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has been going on since the summer, and seven days of strikes in December led Royal Mail to bring forward its last-suggested posting dates for Christmas mail. The recent wave of strikes at the postal firm have cost it £200m so far. Royal Mail also said the number of voluntary redundancies it needed to hit job cut targets would be much lower than first expected.
Royal Mail accused of breaching legal obligations
Royal Mail has been accused of prioritising parcels over letters, breaching its legal obligations under the Universal Service Obligation (USO).