The Royal Mail of the United Kingdom provides postal services through its divisions, Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide, and GLS, upholding traditions with daily delivery and influencing life through postal codes, becoming a factor in social status.
British Mail, also known as the Royal Mail, plays a key role in organizing the postal infrastructure across the country with over 11,000 branches. In 2023, the company is divided into two main divisions: Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, responsible for domestic postal services and express delivery, and General Logistics Services (GLS), providing international logistics services in Europe and North America. Various postal products and delivery services are offered under the brands Royal Mail, Post Office, and Parcelforce Worldwide.
The Royal Mail delivery system covers various aspects, including the collection and delivery of letters and parcels across the country. Iconic red pillar mailboxes, which appeared in 1852, embody British culture and have become an integral part of everyday life. Daily delivery is carried out, aiming to provide unified prices for all directions, with a focus on first-class service, ensuring delivery on the next business day.
Historically, the Royal Mail was a state service, but in 2013, the majority of its shares were privatized, marking the end of nearly five centuries of state ownership. Britons continue to use letters, mainly for work purposes, thanks to the efficient operation of the postal service in the country.
Postal codes in the United Kingdom, representing a combination of numbers and letters, play a crucial role in the postal services system. There are 124 different areas with codes, influencing various aspects of life, such as insurance size, distribution of government funds, education funding, and healthcare. Codes become not only a means of identification but also a factor of social status.
Britons, maintaining their tradition, perceive codes not just as a code but as an important element of social status. The concept of the "postcode lottery" reflects the influence of the code on various aspects of life, including insurance size and funding for public services. Codes become an indicator of status, and even when choosing a place of residence, some Britons are willing to pay more to ensure the "right" code. In London, central codes, such as SW1A 0AA, where the House of Commons is located, or SW1A 1AA, associated with Buckingham Palace, become symbols of status and attractiveness.
