Canada Post on Wednesday issued a stamp to honour a royal milestone Queen Elizabeth II has made as the longest reigning Sovereign in Canada's modern era, more than 63 years, nearing the reign of her grandmother Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
"Our stamps not only depict past history, often they celebrate history in the making. This is just such an event -- and we are proud to have the opportunity to honor Her Majesty as well as her remarkable record of service to Canada and all Canadians," says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post.From a timeless portrait of the queens' coronation in 1953 to a photo taken during the 2010 Royal Tour of Canada, the new stamp captures six decades of Queen Elizabeth II. During her reign, the queen has graced more than 60 stamps.
The queen ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the sudden death of her father, King George VI. Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953. For most Canadians, she is the only sovereign to have reigned during their lifetime.
The stamp was designed by Entro's Doreen Colonello and Gerald Querubin. Photographed at the 2010 Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Queen is dressed in red and white -- Canada's official colours, as designated by her grandfather, King George V in 1921. She also wears the famous diamond maple leaf broach presented to her mother, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) as part of the famous 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.
Other Britain's royal family members have also graced Canadian postage. Most recently, stamps marking the engagement and wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were extremely popular among all Canadians in 2011. Two years later, a baby blue stamp heralded the arrival of Prince George Alexander Louis.