South Georgia News

100th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Elizabeth II

21 April, 2026 marks the centenary of the birth of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Elizabeth’s early years were shaped by a relatively peaceful and private childhood, spent enjoying time with her horses and dogs and with little expectation of one day becoming sovereign. That changed dramatically in 1936 when the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, led to her father, Prince Albert, becoming King George VI. At just ten years old, Elizabeth became heir presumptive, a moment that reshaped the course of her life. Following her father’s sudden death in 1952, she ascended the throne and reigned until 2022, becoming Britain’s longest serving monarch. Across seven decades of social, political, and technological transformation, she came to embody stability, continuity, and a deep sense of duty. Her unwavering commitment to public service earned her lasting respect and admiration both at home and across the Commonwealth. These South Georgia stamps are part of a series (that includes Ascension Island, Bahamas, Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha) celebrating the birth of this much loved and respected monarch. All of the portraits are by one of the most influential British photographers of the early twentieth century, Marcus Adams, who is himself best remembered for his intimate and humane portraits of the British Royal Family.  At a time when royal photography was often stiff, formal, and symbolic rather than personal, Adams helped redefine how royalty was seen by the public.  His portraits conveyed warmth, informality, and individuality, offering a perspective that felt closer and more relatable than traditional ceremonial imagery. For Adams, photography was not just a record making exercise but an art form capable of revealing personality as well as appearance Adams’ association with the Royal Family began in the 1920s and grew steadily over several decades. He became particularly known for his photographs of royal children, most notably Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. His portraits of the young Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, are among the most enduring images of her early life. Rather than presenting her solely as a future monarch, Adams’ photographs show her as a relaxed and thoughtful child, often smiling gently or gazing calmly at the camera. These images helped make the monarchy more relatable at a time when the United Kingdom was experiencing significant social and political change. One of the defining characteristics of Marcus Adams’ royal photography was trust. He was granted a level of access that few photographers of the era enjoyed, largely because his subjects felt comfortable in his presence. Adams was known for his gentle manner and patience, particularly with children, allowing him to capture natural expressions rather than forced poses. This ability to put his subjects at ease resulted in photographs that feel remarkably modern, even today. Technically, Adams was also highly accomplished. He made careful use of soft lighting and uncluttered backgrounds, ensuring that attention remained focused on the subject’s face and expression. His prints were finely crafted, with an emphasis on tonal subtlety and clarity, reflecting both his artistic training and his meticulous working methods. These qualities contributed to the longevity of his work, which remains visually striking nearly a century later. Marcus Adams’ legacy lies not only in the historical significance of the people he photographed, but in the humanity and sincerity he brought to royal portraiture. His work demonstrated that formality and approachability need not be at odds and helped define the visual language of modern royal photography. Today, his portraits stand as a testament to his artistry and to the longstanding relationship he shared with the Royal Family—particularly the young girl who would later become Queen Elizabeth II. £1.40 The infant Princess Elizabeth with Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as the “Queen Mother” and her father King George VI. £1.55 Princess Elizabeth as a toddler. £1.85 Princess Elizabeth as a young lady. £2.05 Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret with their mother”. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  SetFirst Day Cover

Discovery Investigations – 100 years of Marine Science

Two-hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay and took possession of South Georgia, in the name of King George III and his heirs. In this anniversary year we celebrate South Georgia and its change from a little known and little valued island to a thriving UK Overseas Territory which is globally renowned for championing science, conservation and sustainable management. Each set of stamps will focus on a different element of South Georgia and shine a light on both its history and its future. This fifth and final issue focuses on the centenary of the establishment of the Discovery Investigations and its legacy of world class marine science. During the early part of the 20th century, the whaling industry in South Georgia was expanding rapidly and led to a steep decline in whale stocks.  At the time, whales were viewed as a valuable commercial asset, and the Discovery Committee was formed to gather scientific data needed to understand and manage whale stocks sustainably. In 1925, this led to the first of the Discovery Investigations.  A shore-based ‘marine laboratory’ named Discovery House was established at King Edward Point. Scientists at the laboratory worked closely with the whalers at the nearby Grytviken station and were able to dissect and collect data from thousands of whale carcasses that were brought ashore for processing.  In parallel with the shore-based research, the RRS Discovery, which had previously been used by Captain Robert Falcon Scott CVO for his famous Antarctic expedition, was re-fitted for use in oceanographic research. The crew of RRS Discovery collected oceanographic data, undertook bathymetric surveys and studied krill, the primary food source of many whale species. The investigations were later joined by other research vessels, including the RRS William Scoresby and the RRS Discovery II (from 1929) which carried out thousands of observations at sea. Data from the shore station and the various research vessels were compiled into the Discovery Reports. This 38-volume set is considered the foundational reference for Southern Ocean marine biology. Furthermore, the Discovery Investigations provided key evidence demonstrating that a number of whale species were being driven to extinction and ultimately led to the international moratorium on commercial whaling declared in 1982. The legacy of the Discovery Investigations endures and much of the biological oceanography and marine ecosystem science which happens today is built on the foundation of information gathered during that time. Research continues to monitor the recovery of whale populations after the ban on commercial whaling and the British Antarctic Survey leads a number of projects studying the distribution, health, and population dynamics of whale species. Recent research tracking whale occurrence, in relation to shipping traffic, fisheries and climate change has led to important new conservation measures, to limit the impact of human activities such as noise and collision risk. Other research has focused on measuring krill consumption and assessing krill stocks to ensure they are sufficient to sustain the recovering whale population and has contributed to the design and monitoring of the South Georgia & the South Sandwich Island’s extensive Marine Protected Area. A testament to the long-term research efforts is that whale populations around South Georgia are in recovery, with species such as the humpback whale estimated to be at over 90% of their pre-whaling population. For other species, such as the Antarctic blue whale, southern right and fin whales, whilst there are encouraging signs, the levels of recovery are lower. Research is ongoing into the possible reasons for this and include the theory that whale distributions have shifted since whaling, perhaps to track a southward shift in krill concentrations. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  SetFirst Day CoverSheet

South Georgia Heritage

Two-hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay and took possession of the island, in the name of King George III and his heirs. In this anniversary year we celebrate South Georgia and its change from a little known and little valued island to a thriving UK Overseas Territory which is globally renowned for championing science, conservation and sustainable management. Each set of stamps will focus on a different element of South Georgia and shine a light on both its history and its future. This fourth issue is a commemorative set and focuses on heritage and how humans have engaged with the South Georgia landscape over its 250-year history. GovernmentIn 1775 Cook formally claimed South Georgia for Great Britain, and in 1843 the Letters Patent were issued initiating continuous British possession and rule. Throughout the 19th century South Georgia was governed as a dependency of the Falkland Islands, but in 1985 the Territory became independent and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands was established. The main centre of Government operations is King Edward Point, where a constant GSGSSI presence is maintained and Government Officers oversee all activities from fishing to tourism. IndustryAlthough wildlife and wilderness dominate South Georgia, the signs of past industry remain. In particular, the shore based whaling stations are a stark reminder of a period in the islands history that was characterised by exploitation of the natural environment. The whaling stations themselves were hubs of activity and had all the facilities needed to support the small populations and the whaling industry, with everything from the core processing facilities, mess and accommodation buildings, kitchens and gardens, and even boat building and repair yards – critical for a Southern Ocean industry. The propellors on the beach at Stromness are a reminder of this industrial past. Field ScienceAs a natural laboratory that is home to vast arrays of seabirds and marine mammals, scientists flock to South Georgia to study its wildlife. Much of these data can only be gathered in the field and some of the long-term demography studies have been ongoing for more than 30 years. In modern times, technological advances mean it is increasingly possible to use remote sensing techniques to monitor wildlife, but there remains a need to ground truth data and collect physical samples to monitor diet and breeding success. The field hut on the Greene Peninsula is typical of the facilities on the island, comprising of a small cabin with two bunks and a small kitchen area. WorshipDuring the whaling era, shore-based stations were self-contained in terms of industry, sustenance, recreation and spirituality. The church at Grytviken was built by Norwegian whalers in 1913 and formed a crucial part of life on station hosting many significant services, including a funeral service for Sir Ernest Shackleton. Today it is part of the Diocese of the Falkland Islands and still hosts commemorative services and the occasional wedding. EndeavourAs a remote Atlantic Island, endeavour was needed in almost all facets of life on South Georgia. Tenacity and ingenuity were needed to overcome what elsewhere would seem like simple tasks. The hut at Jason Harbour is testament to this. Small and weatherbeaten, the hut was built in 1911 as a refuge and was used to deposit mail for the stations in Stromness Bay and provided a vital link in communication between the stations and the outside world. ExplorationSouth Georgia’s most famous explorer was Sir Ernest Shackleton who is famed for his heroic crossing of the island to summon help for his stricken crew from HMS Endurance on Elephant Island. South Georgia remained close to Shackleton’s heart and at the request of his wife, he is buried in the cemetery at Grytviken. The spirit of exploration lives on, and other notable endeavours include the Combined Services Expedition of 1964/65, which not only retraced Shackleton’s footsteps in crossing the island but also made the first ascent of the Islands highest peak, Mount Paget. Even today a small number of mountaineering expeditions still seek to explore the rugged and inaccessible interior of South Georgia. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  SetFirst Day Cover

South Georgia Wildlife

Two-hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay and took possession of the island, in the name of King George III and his heirs. In this anniversary year we celebrate South Georgia and its change from a little known and little valued island to a thriving UK Overseas Territory which is globally renowned for championing science, conservation and sustainable management. Each set of stamps will focus on a different element of South Georgia and shine a light on both its history and its future. This third issue is a commemorative set and focuses on wildlife – a feature of South Georgia which is cherished above all others and now attracts tourists and scientists from across the globe, but which once was seen purely through a lens of exploitation. In the last 250 years, attitudes towards wildlife have changed fundamentally. When first exploring the island, Cook noted the abundance of fur seals, elephant seals and whales and saw them purely as a resource to be harvested. It is estimated that up to 1.2 million Antarctic fur seals were killed in the 100 years after the islands discovery nearly wiping the species out on the island. Elephant seals were also heavily hunted for their rich blubber and up to 800,000 were taken across the region. Seabirds were also impacted with penguins being targeted for fat, oil, meat and feathers, and the eggs of other seabirds would have been taken without thought for longer term population impacts. This unsustainable harvesting led to the crash in populations of many species, and they were only left to recover once it was no longer economical and attention shifted to whaling. In addition to being directly impacted by humans, South Georgia wildlife was also indirectly impacted by those early explorers when invasive species such as rats and mice were inadvertently brought ashore with supplies and in shipwrecks. The invasive rodents decimated the island’s bird populations and predated on the eggs and chicks of ground and burrow nesting birds. With the abundance of food, and in the absence of any natural predators, rodent populations grew rapidly. It was not only on land that South Georgia’s wildlife suffered at the hands of humans. Up until the late 1990’s, longline fisheries operating close to the island would catch scores of seabirds on their baited hooks and populations of species such as albatross that are slow to reproduce were heavily impacted. Fast forward to the current day, and approaches to wildlife management have profoundly changed. Wildlife is now protected both on land and at sea. Marine and Terrestrial Protected Areas cover the entirety of South Georgia and strict regulations ensure that the food sources for marine mammals are protected and they remain undisturbed at their breeding sites on land. Invasive rodents have been removed in a landmark eradication project and populations of birds that were once near extinction are once again thriving.  Strict biosecurity measures are in place, both on South Georgia and at gateway ports, to make sure that rodents do not return. In the Marine Protected Area, all fishing activities are now strictly regulated and world-leading measures in bycatch mitigation mean that bird bycatch is near zero. On land tourists marvel at beaches that are crowded with seals and penguins and, by working closely with the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, visitors are educated to understand how to act in a way that does not disturb the animals they have come to see. To ensure that South Georgia’s wildlife remains fully protected, ongoing research and monitoring efforts continue to inform management decisions and assess the impact of human activities on the ecosystem. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  SetFirst Day CoverSouvenir SheetSouvenir Sheet First Day Cover 

South Georgia Weather – New Definitive

Two-hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay and took possession of the island, in the name of King George III and his heirs. In this anniversary year we celebrate South Georgia and its change from a little known and little valued island to a thriving UK Overseas Territory which is globally renowned for championing science, conservation and sustainable management. Each set of stamps issued this year will focus on a different element of South Georgia and shine a light on both its history and its future. This second issue is a definitive set and focuses on weather - an element of South Georgia which is as captivating and challenging now as it was 250 years ago. The weather on South Georgia is principally driven by the oceans which surround the island. As South Georgia is south of the polar front and directly in the path of the Antarctic circumpolar current the cooling effect of the ocean is key to the islands cold, wet, windy weather. Average temperature on South Georgia in the winter at sea level is 0oC to -1oC but the moisture laden air means that in this period precipitation falls as snow which frequently covers the entire island down to sea level from May to October. The maritime climate means that in summer temperatures at sea level range from an average of 3oC to 5oC although there can be significant variation locally. On the sheltered north coast temperatures in the summer months regularly exceed 10oC and the highest temperature recorded was from King Edward Point which once reached 28.8oC. More than any other feature it is the wind, and its interaction with the high peaks in the centre of South Georgia, which drives local weather. The prevailing westerly wind and stream of weather systems brings frequent gales, low cloud, rain and snow. The parts of the island exposed to the full force of this weather on the southern coast and both easterly and westerly extremes are typically cooler and damper than the central northern coastline which is sheltered by the towering peaks of the Allardyce Range. However, whilst ordinarily providing a degree of shelter, being in the lee of these mountains means the bays experience two unusual wind phenomena. Katabatic winds occurs when air flowing from the west comes into contact with the heavily glaciated interior of the island, cools rapidly and becoming denser, drains away down slope. Föhn winds occur when the westerly airstream is partly blocked by towering peaks in the centre of the island causing it to be forced around the lower areas. However, a small amount ‘spills’ over the crest of the mountains and drops down the lee of the slope warming rapidly as it decants causing a strong, warm off shore wind. Waves within the föhn winds sometimes trigger violent downdrafts of up to 100 mph known as williwaws.It is the wind and its interaction with the mountains that creates the striking lenticular cloud formations. Lenticular clouds are lens shaped and form when there is a stable flow of moist air over mountains and creates a standing wave. Lenticular clouds are often mistaken for UFOs because of their lens-like shape and smooth, saucer-like appearance. Although the day-to-day variation in the weather is pronounced and often dramatic, it is the long-term average changes to weather patterns, or climate, which are having the most impact on the South Georgia environment. In the 250 years since Cook first landed the climate has changed profoundly. The impacts of climate change are multiple. The glaciers which 250 years ago flowed from the islands interior out to the sea have retreated dramatically, at a rate of anything from around 12 m per year on the cooler south side of the island to 384 m per year on the Neumayer glacier on the north coast. The retreat of glaciers has meant in some cases where glaciers once terminated in the sea, they now terminate on land leaving bare ground which is open for colonisation by plants and invertebrates. It is not just retreating ice on the land which is affecting South Georgia. The warming waters of the Southern Ocean mean that in some years, the extent of the sea ice around the Antarctic continent is significantly reduced which can alter the distribution of krill and other prey species of the marine mammals and penguins that breed on South Georgia. The pattern of these changes and consequences for the ecosystem are complex and not fully understood making it a priority for research in the region. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  SetFirst Day Cover 1First Day Cover 2

250th Anniversary of Possession

On the 17th of January 1775, Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay. While his vessel HMS Resolution sat at anchor in the bay, Cook went ashore, hoisted the British flag and performed the ceremony of taking possession of the island, in the name of King George III and his heirs.In this 250th year we celebrate South Georgia and its change from a little known and little valued island to a thriving UK Overseas Territory which is globally renowned for championing science, conservation and sustainable management. Each set of stamps will focus on a different element of South Georgia and shine a light on both its history and its future.This first issue commemorates Possession itself and the start of South Georgia’s 250-year journey from obscurity to the modern age.PossessionCook and his vessel HMS Resolution departed Plymouth Sound in July 1772 on an expedition to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible and determine whether there was a great southern landmass. During the voyage the Resolution crossed the Antarctic circle twice and reached a latitude of 71°10'S without sighting Antarctica. It was only on their homeward voyage when they sighted South Georgia.After their initial discovery and landing, Cook began mapping the coastline, but did not bring his ship close into the island due to the dangerous conditions. Hopeful that he had finally discovered the great southern continent, reaching the southernmost point of the main island those hopes were dashed and it was duly named Cape Disappointment. Other key landmarks around the coastline were named during this voyage including Cooper Island, Willis Island, Bird Island, Clerke Rocks, Bay of Isles and the Pickersgill Islands to name but a few.Despite his significant contribution to the history of South Georgia, accounts from the time indicate that Cook was not enamoured by South Georgia. In his journal he described the island as “Lands doomed by Nature to perpetual frigidness, never to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, whose horrible and savage aspect I have no words to describe”. He lamented that there were no trees or shrubs, and that pieces of ice were constantly breaking off and floating out to sea.  At the time, the main positive aspect that Cook took away from South Georgia was the huge abundance of fur seals, elephant seals and whales. When word of this discovery spread, it almost immediately led to an influx of those intent on unconstrained harvesting. Unsustainable practices meant that in just a few decades fur seal populations were nearly wiped out and attention switched to harvesting whales and elephant seals for their oil.This was a dark time in South Georgia’s history and is in sharp contrast to the contemporary attitudes which focus on stewardship and conservation of the environment rather than exploitation. Today, thanks to strict laws prohibiting harm to marine mammals and the ecosystem which supports them, the beaches and waters surrounding South Georgia are once again full of life. Visitors look at the island with wonder, not despair, and rather than being disappointed by our island state we are awed and uplifted by it. High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found below -  Souvenir SheetSouvenir Sheet First Day Cover