Northern Ireland

Hillsborough postbox gets royal makeover ahead of King Charles coronation

Four postboxes across the UK are being repainted to mark the coronation of King Charles III in London this weekend.
Four postboxes across the UK are being repainted to mark the coronation of King Charles III in London this weekend. Four postboxes across the UK are being repainted to mark the coronation of King Charles III in London this weekend.

A Co Down postbox is one of four across the UK receiving a makeover to mark the coronation of Britain's King Charles this weekend.

The postbox in Hillsborough is being repainted with a special emblem to mark the coronation, which is being held in London this Saturday.

Three other postboxes have also been given a royal lick of paint to celebrate the occasion - one in Westminster, London, close to where Charles will be crowned at Westminster Abbey; one in Edinburgh, and another in Cardiff.

The postboxes will not feature the new royal cypher representing the new UK monarch, which will be stamped on any new boxes erected in the UK.

Some postboxes in the UK and Ireland date back to the reign of Queen Victoria, with her cypher still visible. 

Royal Mail's director of external affairs, David Gold, said the coronation is a "momentous occasion and one that will be celebrated across UK".

"We are proud to mark such a historic event and to offer our warmest congratulations to the King and Queen," he said.