Royal Mail is the national postal service of the United Kingdom and one of the oldest postal services in the world. It was founded in 1516 (yes, that old!) and was owned by the British state for centuries. In 2013, the company was partially privatised and is now listed on the stock exchange, although the government remains a shareholder.

Royal Mail delivers letters and parcels in the UK, with daily deliveries to almost every address in the country. They are recognisable by their iconic red letterboxes and vans. For international deliveries, Royal Mail works with Parcelforce Worldwide, their express division, among others.

Although Royal Mail is a well-known and trusted name, the company has come under pressure in recent years due to the decline of traditional mail and increasing competition in parcel delivery, particularly from players such as Amazon, Evri (formerly Hermes), DPD and UPS.

Royal Mail has also faced strikes and disputes over working conditions, particularly around modernising the business and improving efficiency.