No such monarch... Royal Mail in post box blunder

to the untrained eye, it looks like any other red post box.

But royal Mail has agreed to replace one of its iconic red pillar boxes after a complaint that it features a historical inaccuracy that once sparked protests and even an act of terrorism.

Following the coronation of elizabeth II in 1952, post boxes across the uK were installed featuring the insignia eIIr.

But the move sparked protests north of the Border, as the monarch is the first elizabeth to hold the crown of scotland. elizabeth I only reigned over england, with Mary, Queen of scots ruling north of the Border.

the crowns were united under James VI and I in 1603, after the death of elizabeth.

After a box was blown up in edinburgh, the then general Post office took the decision to replace the insignia in scotland with an image of the scottish crown.

so when colin stevenson, 74, spotted the english cypher on a new post box in dunoon, Argyll, he complained. writing to a local newspaper, Mr stevenson, of strachur, said: ‘whilst walking along the front at dunoon the other day, I was confronted by something I thought had been consigned to the dustbin of history in scotland, namely an eIIr monogrammed post box.

‘It is surely an indication of how powerless and supine we are perceived to be that incorrectly badged post boxes are being reintroduced some 65 years after having been removed.’

royal Mail has agreed to replace the box. A spokesman said: ‘A new post box in Alexandra Parade in dunoon unfortunately does feature the wrong scottish insignia which was positioned in error.

‘we apologise if this has upset any of our customers and it will be changed to the correct insignia as soon as possible. royal Mail is very proud of its unique scottish insignia.’

the post box debate was sparked following the accession of elizabeth II.

Protests took place when a box was put in the new Inch housing estate in edinburgh on November 28, 1952. within two days, it was covered with tar.

In February 1953, it was attacked with a sledgehammer.

Five days later, the box was blown up. the following day, the still smoking remnants were draped in a lion rampant.

the gPo then decided to remove the eIIr insignia north of the Border.

‘Fit as a fiddle’: Prince Philip with Queen in her Bentley THE Duke of Edinburgh, 97, looked in good spirits yesterday as he joined the Queen to attend church in Balmoral – just two months after he had hip replacement surgery.Prince Philip made the rare public appearance, in a grey suit with blue tie, as the pair headed to Crathie Kirk in the Queen’s Bentley.Her Majesty wore a cream ensemble with a matching hat by her favoured milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan and a striking diamond brooch. Elsewhere, the Duchess of Cornwall, 71 – who took the wheel herself to make the short journey to the historic church – looked chipper as she drove Prince Charles in the rain.A royal source told The Sun that the Duke ‘no longer shoots after having a stent in his heart a few years ago but he loves fishing and sometimes stands for hours in the River Dee. For his age he’s as fit as a fiddle’. Driving seat: Camilla at the wheel with Charles

Replaced: New post box