Late letters fuel criticism of Britain’s Royal Mail

Late letters have left residents across Britain frustrated and have prompted criticism and inquiries into Royal Mail’s performance, the 500-year-old postal service, the New York Times reported on Jan. 30, 2026. The report cites several examples: Andy Shield in northwest England said 24 Christmas cards arrived in a single day with different postmarks and that other urgent items, including bank cards and a speeding ticket, were delayed; he began collecting his mail from the local sorting facility.

Gareth Jones in Greater Manchester said a letter about a medical appointment arrived three days after the appointment. James Naish, an MP for Rushcliffe, said he had heard from more than 600 constituents about delays, and Claire Young, the MP for Thornbury and Yate, said about 45 people in her area had contacted her office and urged Royal Mail to address staff shortages.

The article places the current troubles in context: annual mail volume has fallen from more than 20 billion pieces two decades ago to about a third of that level today. Royal Mail, long run by the state, was privatized in 2013 and was purchased last year by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky; the company reported a return to profit last year for the first time in three years.

The service has also faced strikes and financial pressures as traditional postage has been overtaken by digital alternatives and private couriers. Regulatory and watchdog actions are under way.

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