Canada Post’s definitive program wouldn’t be complete without a royal touch. This year, a lively photograph of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, taken during her most recent royal visit to Canada, graces a PERMANENT™ stamp.

“Canadians look forward to The Queen’s visits,” says Doreen Colonello, Associate Creative Director at Gottschalk+Ash International. “So we were delighted to feature a photograph of Her Majesty in her classic wave pose.”

The close-up photograph is shown before a vibrant sedum. “We strove to create a royal and serene backdrop for The Queen, choosing this plant for its radiating leaves and its subtle colour gradations,” explains Colonello. “Two blue curved transparent forms in the foreground echo the flower’s rays, and the play between the rays in the background and the transparency in the foreground surround The Queen with a sense of light and warmth.”

The stamp will be cancelled in Jasper, Alberta, where the photograph featured on the stamp was taken.