The Beatles are appearing on British stamps but since two members aren't dead, how can this be so?

Question

After all, you have to be royalty or dead to go on a stamp. Have the rules been relaxed?

Further to Omode's answer, I don't belive Ringo Starr has been knighted, just Paul.

Answer 1

The policy followed by the Royal Mail is that the only identifiable living people depicted on British stamps are the monarch and other members of the Royal Family (or people imminently marrying into it). This policy has only occasionally been broken, e.g. in the 1967 issue commemorating the solo round the world voyage of Gipsy Moth IV a person appears as an unidentified blob on the yacht – as there was only one person on board it must have been Francis Chichester. Similarly in the issue honouring the late Freddie Mercury, drummer Roger Taylor can be seen in the background.
The rule was again broken in December 2003 when players from England's victory over Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final were shown, however no faces appeared. The rule was finally abandoned with the release on the 6th October 2005 of a set of stamps to commemorate the English cricket team's victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes series. The four stamps clearly and deliberately depict members of the team including captain Michael Vaughan and Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff . A series of stamps to be released in January 2007 will feature some of the most famous Beatles album covers, which will also undoubtedly show members of the band who are still alive.

Answer 2

Yes, that was the rule - royalty or dead.
Over the years it was broken or partially broken a few times, usually by mistake, but in the last couple of years the Post Office has openly stated that the rule will no longer be strictly enforced.

Answer 3

From the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/5339284.stm

Answer 4

Aren't the Beatles like Royalty. Two are dead and the others were knighted. So they fit the criteria.

Answer 5

The Beatles are amazing and were revolutionary, 40-years have gone by since they first were popular.

Answer 6

takes 2 more bullets indeed.sosgez, your an idiot. if they have relaxed the rules, then thats cool. The Beatles did make a major contribution to music.....

Answer 7

Who gives a monkeys about rules anymore,rock on.

Answer 8

I think that rule applies to banknotes, not stamps.

Answer 9

Maybe they are thinking of the group no longer existing!

Answer 10

seems the rules have been relaxed, i was tired of licking the back of the queens head anyway.