A STAMP designer from North Yorkshire has landed the chance to create a series celebrating the history of Buckingham Palace.

Howard Brown, from Husthwaite, designed an issue of six first class stamps exploring the different appearance of the building over the centuries.

Andrew Hammond, Royal Mail spokesperson, said; “This stamp issue illustrates the development of Buckingham Palace from the private house built by the Duke of Buckingham 300 years ago to one of the most iconic buildings in the world.

“Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognised landmarks in the UK and is a source of pride to the nation; it forms a huge part of our heritage, so it’s fitting Royal Mail has been able to dedicate a stamp issue to this most famous of addresses.”

Mr Brown, who is in his late sixties, has previously designed several stamp issues for Royal Mail, the most recent of which were the 2007 Abolition of the Slave Trade stamps, the 2008 Cathedrals stamps and Miniature Sheet, 2009 Darwin Miniature Sheet and 2010 Medical Breakthroughs stamps.

Other credits include the 1991 set to commemorate the bicentenary of Ordnance Survey and the 1993 Marine Timekeeper set, the 1996 Football Legends, the Weather mini-sheet in 2001, 2003s Extreme Endeavours and the 2006 World Cup stamps.

His outstanding work won him the prestigious 1995 Phillips Gold Medal.

The history of Buckingham Palace can be traced back to the early 17th century, when a mulberry garden was established on the site to breed silk worms.

Later the Duke of Buckingham who transformed the site by demolishing an existing building there and erecting an ambitious brick house with a three-storeyed central block and flanking pavilions.

In 1761, King George III bought the house as a private residence following his marriage to Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz.

The stamps are available from www.royalmail.com/buckinghampalace, by phone on 08457 641 641 and in 10,000 Post Offices throughout the UK.