‘Coronation’ postbox has been repainted back to its original colour

A controversial postbox to mark the coronation of King Charles has been repainted back to its original colour.

The postbox, one of four coronation postboxes unveiled across the UK, was subjected to continual defacing with stickers and graffiti when it was unveiled.

Despite subsequent efforts to clean it up, it was continually targeted. Now it appears Royal Mail has taken the decision to revert it back to its original red colour.

The postbox was pictured being painted around midday today with Twitter users taking pics of what has become the famous post box in Wales.

Dim byd fel côt o baent newydd, nag oes? pic.twitter.com/E038yaeMsF

— Y Rhys Olaf (@RhysCaerdydd) May 10, 2023

Da iawn Cymru!#Coronation #Cardiff#KingCharles #PostBox#NotMyKing

Job well done. pic.twitter.com/5UDVmpve6G

— ^|=x (@dhubbj) May 10, 2023

When the Coronation postboxes were unveiled Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The Coronation of Charles III is going to be a huge historic moment for the UK and one that will be celebrated with a weekend packed with different ways for people to get involved.

“Our postboxes are recognised the world over as an iconic symbol of Britain and these four iconic unique Coronation postboxes will leave a lasting royal legacy in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Royal Hillsborough.”

However, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Ahead of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Royal Mail unveiled four special postboxes across the UK. Following the Coronation, Royal Mail is now returning the postboxes to red.”

Originally stickers were applied to the postbox within hours of it being unveiled outside the Owain Glyndŵr pub in Cardiff.

Members of the public criticised the decision to place the postbox decorated with a Union Jack flag and the coronation’s official emblem nearby a pub named after a Welsh hero who led a fifteen year revolt to end English rule in Wales.

During his fight for Welsh independence, Owain Glyndŵr seized a number of walled towns and castles built by the English and was the last man, born and raised in Wales, to have the title of Prince of Wales.

Protests

While some commentators on social media appeared to predict and support the vandalism of the box, others, including Welsh Conservative councillor for Radyr and Morgantown Calum Davies, reported it to Royal Mail and Cardiff Council and by mid-morning on Thursday the stickers had been ripped off, but their outline remained visible.

In the following days leading up to the coronation the post-box was covered in stickers and graffiti.

A “Not My King” protest took place on the city’s streets on Saturday, with people gathering by the statue of Aneurin Bevan on Queen Street from 12.30pm before a march took place.

It was followed by a “Big Republican Lunch” in Bute Park – a play on the name of the Big Coronation Lunches that communities have been encouraged to hold to mark the occasion.

The organisers behind the protest in Wales, Cymru Republic, previously held a demonstration during the King’s visit to Cardiff following his accession to the throne.

Groups had been warned that under new laws to curb protests which came into force last week anyone found disrupting infrastructure such as roads, airports and railways would be dealt with swiftly and could face 12 months behind bars.

Republican protesters were arrested in London on Saturday morning prior to the coronation getting underway.