Prince Charles meets young stamp designers

Prince Charles met with the young designers of the Royal Mail’s festive stamps for 2013 this week.

The British royal was head of a panel of judges who whittled down over 240,000 entries from children aged four to 11, who made stamps in response to the question:  »What does the Christmas season mean to you? »

The first class stamp – depicting Santa Claus – was designed by Molly Robson, seven, from West Sussex, Southern England, while the second class stamp, featuring three singing angels, was painted by 10-year-old Rosie Hargreaves, from Devon, South West England.

The prince met both girls at a reception, held at Clarence House in London, where he gave them each a framed copy of their designs. The actual stamps featuring their work will be on sale throughout the UK during the festive season.

Rosie said:  »It felt really amazing to win. I was very excited about meeting Prince Charles. I think mummy and daddy were more nervous than me. »

Rosie’s father, John Hargreaves, a physics teacher, said:  »When the Royal Mail phoned up to tell me that Rosie had won, I screamed out in joy. But then I was told it was a secret, so I had to pretend to my family I was screaming because someone phoning about a good report for my school. »

Molly was equally ecstatic about her work appearing on stamps across the country.

She said:  »I was very excited that I won. The picture took me two afternoons to draw. I usually like to draw rainbows. »

Molly’s mother, Clare Robson, added:  »Finding out that Molly had won was quite surreal, considering such a vast number of children took part. I know everyone at Molly’s school will be really pleased. »

As with all special editions issued by Royal Mail, both winning designs were approved by Queen Elizabeth, whose portrait graces all ordinary stamps.