Stamp design tears royal couple apart

A royal wedding stamp featuring Prince William and Kate Middleton has an awkward feature - a perforated line down the middle which splits the couple up. The unusual stamp, officially released in New Zealand to mark the young couple's wedding later this month, can be torn in half and used as two stamps. Together the Royal Wedding stamps are worth 5.80 NZ dollars, but separated Middleton is a 2.40 dollars stamp and Prince William a costlier 3.40 dollars.

It is thought the stamp, which went on sale last week and is designed by New Zealand Post, will now become a collectors' item. Editor of Gibbons Stamp Monthly Hugh Jefferies said the stamp is "embarrassing" and had not been designed well. He said: "Whoever designed this will have egg on their face and someone's head will roll.



"I'm sure they didn't mean to ominously suggest the couple could be easily separated, it's just a very bizarre design. This kind of thing has happened in the past. When Charles and Diana got married, the Australian Royal stamp had the couple facing away from each other, which caused much criticism. In most countries Buckingham Palace will have to approve the design. Perhaps they were shown it without the perforation down the middle.

"When something like this happens the critics love it and the post office responsible can't stand it. It's also unusual that the two stamps are worth different values. They are a lovely looking couple and the stamps stand alone well, its's just unfortunate the separation line is between them." He added: "There is quite a big take up with collectors for this type of thing and no doubt they will have a wry smile on their faces when they file this stamp in their books."