Overview
His Majesty King Charles III celebrates his 78th birthday on 14 November 2026. The two commemorative stamps issued for the occasion feature photographs by Millie Pilkington, one of Britain’s most respected and accomplished portrait photographers.
The photographer
Millie Pilkington is one of Britain’s most respected and accomplished portrait photographers. Based near Sherborne, in Dorset, Pilkington is known for her relaxed, intimate portraits. She is a favourite with the royal family and has photographed King
Charles, Queen Camilla and the family of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on several occasions. Millie Pilkington provided photographs for the King’s Birthday Australian stamp issue in 2025.
Stamps in this issue
King Charles at Balmoral
The international post stamp shows King Charles in the sunken garden in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 2024. A residence of the British royal family, Balmoral Castle was built by Charles’ great-great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, in 1856. It was where Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022. Charles is wearing a kilt that features the King Charles III tartan, designed to mark his coronation on 6 May 2023. The portrait was originally commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament in 2024. In September 2025, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially unveiled the portrait, which now hangs in the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
King Charles at Highgrove
The domestic post stamp shows King Charles in July 2025, in the arboretum of Highgrove House, his private residence in Gloucestershire. The gardens of Highgrove occupy six hectares and have been open to the public since 1996. The property now welcomes 40,000 visitors a year, who are free to visit the gardens, Highgrove restaurant and shop. All profits at Highgrove help fund The King’s Foundation charity. The photograph on the stamp was taken in conjunction with the documentary film Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, released in February 2026, which tells the story of Charles’ lifelong commitment to nature and the environment.
Technical specifications
| Issue date | 20 October 2026 |
| Issue withdrawal date | 1 May 2027 |
| Denomination | 1 x $1.85, 1 x $4.70 International |
| Stamp & Product Design | Jason Watts, Australia Post Design Studio |
| Printer: gummed | RA Printing |
| Paper: gummed | Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor/Blue PVA Stamp |
| Paper: Self-Adhesive | Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor PSA (P55) 100gsm Release |
| Printing process | Offset lithography |
| Stamp size (mm) | 26 x 37.5 |
| Minisheet size (mm) | 135 x 80 |
| Perforations (mm) | 14.6 x 13.86 |
| Sheet layout | Module of 50 (2 x 25) |
| FDI Postmark | Charlestown, NSW 2290 |
| FDI Withdrawal date | 16 April 2027 |
This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.