How long has uk mail been running

The history of mail delivery in the United Kingdom dates back to the 16th century, when the first postal service was established by King Henry VIII in 1516. However, the modern postal service as we know it today, Royal Mail, has a more recent history.

Here's a brief overview:

• 1516: King Henry VIII establishes the first postal service in England, with the aim of facilitating communication between the monarch and his officials.
• 1635: The General Post Office (GPO) is established, with the responsibility of managing the postal service.
• 1840: The Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, is introduced, making it easier and more affordable for people to send mail.
• 1870: The GPO is reorganized, and the modern postal service begins to take shape.
• 1969: The Post Office Act is passed, which leads to the creation of the Post Office Corporation, a state-owned company responsible for providing postal services.
• 1986: The Post Office Corporation is privatized, and Royal Mail is established as a separate company.
• 2013: Royal Mail is floated on the London Stock Exchange, becoming a publicly traded company.

So, in summary, the history of mail delivery in the UK dates back to the 16th century, but the modern postal service, Royal Mail, has been running in its current form since 1969, and as a publicly traded company since 2013.