When was royal mail founded

Royal Mail, the United Kingdom's postal service, has a long and rich history that dates back to the 16th century. Here's a brief overview:

• 1516: The first recorded postal service in the UK was established by Henry VIII, who appointed a Master of the Posts to oversee the delivery of official documents and letters.
• 1635: The General Post Office (GPO) was established by Charles I, with the first postmaster general, Thomas Witherings, being appointed to oversee the service.
• 1660: The GPO was reorganized and expanded under the reign of King Charles II, with the introduction of a standardized postal system and the establishment of postal routes across the country.
• 1710: The GPO was granted a royal charter, which gave it a monopoly on postal services in the UK.
• 1840: The Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, was introduced, making it easier and more affordable for people to send letters.
• 1870: The GPO was reorganized and became a government department, with the postmaster general being responsible for overseeing the service.
• 1969: The GPO was privatized and became Royal Mail, a public limited company (PLC).
• 2013: Royal Mail was floated on the London Stock Exchange, with the government retaining a 30% stake in the company.

Today, Royal Mail is one of the largest postal services in the world, with a network of over 14,000 post offices and a fleet of over 18,000 vehicles. It employs over 150,000 people and delivers over 12 billion items every year.