In 1635 Charles I opened the Royal Mail to the public. His postboys rode five routes from London to Dover, Edinburgh, Falmouth, Milford Haven and Holyhead. Today 28,000 vehicles carry letters to 23 million addresses nationwide.
The modern Post Office also operates Datapost, a same-day courier service; a parcel service delivering two million packages a year; postbuses which carry mail and passengers along country roads; and trains that sort letters automatically.
John Hosken reports on 350 years of Royal Mail.
A Radio News production by ADAM RAPHAEL (R)