Australia Post has released two new stamps to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday on Saturday, 21 April 2018, with a floral theme.

This year’s stamps focus on the Queen Elizabeth rose which was released in 1954 to honour Her Majesty’s accession in 1952 and her coronation the following year.

Jason Watts from the Australia Post Design Studio designed these stamps.

$1 Queen Elizabeth II with Queen Elizabeth rose

The Queen is pictured during her 90th birthday celebrations on the domestic-rate stamp when she arrived to open the Alexandra Gardens Bandstand at Windsor, and a close up photograph of the Elizabeth rose.

$3 Queen Elizabeth on Commonwealth Day

The Queen is pictured on the international-rate stamp attending the 2015 Commonwealth Day Service held at Westminster Abbey.

Commonwealth Day is commemorated on the second Monday in March. The Queen delivers a televised address which is broadcasted around the world to more than 50 Commonwealth countries and territories.

Medallion Cover

The Queen Elizabeth rose also features on the medallion cover released with the stamp issue, but there are only 3,000 available.

A specially-designed 60-millimetre polished gold medallion features the rose.

These stamp issues are available for a limited time from Australia Post from Tuesday, 17 April 2018, online, at participating post offices and mail order on 1800 33-1794.

The Queen Elizabeth Rose

Dr Walter Lammerts in the USA created the Queen Elizabeth Rose, also known as ‘Queen of England’, which is a popular variety of rose in Australia and widely available.

President of the World Federation of Rose Societies Kelvin Trimper, who lives in Renmark in South Australia, is a fan of Queen Elizabeth rose and described it as ’timeless’.

‘Queen Elizabeth rose is tall and upright and features attractive pink blooms on long straight stems. The elegant buds of darker pink open to moderately fragrant, classic shaped blooms. The bush is very disease resistant and almost thornless with dark green, healthy foliage. I have enjoyed growing this rose for over 30 years,’ Kelvin said.

The Queen Elizabeth rose has won many awards, including the Gold Rose of the Hague in 1968 and inducted into the World Rose Hall of Fame in 1979.

Visit the National Rose Society of Australia’s website to find out further details about growing roses.