Prince William is to become the latest Royal to
be featured on a set of stamps.
The post office in Jersey is issuing four 75p
stamps of the Prince in different settings to
help mark his 18th birthday.
On one stamp he wears a skiing hat and
goggles with snow-covered mountains in the
background, representing his sporting passion.
The others show him with Caernarvon Castle, a
firework display, and a polo match in the
background.
Jersey Post said the stamps aimed "to portray
the enthusiasm for life which the handsome
Prince William exudes" while also showing
sensitivity to his position as a member of the
monarchy.
Graphic designer William Wall chose the
photographs and used computer technology to
create the images.
Generational appeal
"The brief I had was to design stamps which
would appeal to the prince's generation," he
said.
"I chose the setting of Caernarvon Castle to
portray his birthright and destiny as a future
King of England.
"The other settings were to show his sporting
side and the fireworks represent a celebration
at his coming of age."
It took Mr Wall one week to design the set of
stamps, although he had difficulty finding
usable photographs of William.
They go on sale from 21 June, William's
birthday, and can only be used from Jersey.
They can be ordered along with a first day
cover envelope and presentation pack at
www.jerseypost.com. from the Jersey Post
website.
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Heart op for Belgian monarch(UK Times)
BY MARTIN FLETCHER, EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
KING ALBERT II of Belgium was recovering yesterday
after undergoing an emergency quadruple heart bypass
operation late on Wednesday.
The 66-year-old monarch was admitted to a hospital near
Brussels after complaining of breathlessness and chest
pains. Prince Philippe, King Albert's 39-year-old son and
heir, and Guy Verhofstadt, Belgium's Prime Minister, cut
short their holidays.
The King's operation seems likely to revive speculation
that he might abdicate, triggered when Prince Philippe
greatly increased his eligibility for the throne by marrying
Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in December. However, in his
Christmas address King Albert insisted: "The Queen and I
will continue to serve the inhabitants of our beautiful and
dear country."