On June 1, 1999, the Royal Mail issued 4 stamps commemorating “famous people”. The 19c face value stamp featured Freddy Mercury, the deceased lead singer of the rock band “Queen”. In the background of the stamp a small silhouette of living band drummer Roger Taylor was visible. According to Royal Mail rules no living person, beside the Queen, was allowed to be featured on stamps.

The stamp therefore stirred protests and even the daily newspaper “The Mirror” dedicated an article to the stamp on June 3, 1999. According to the article a spokesman of the Royal Mail stated that “… only a tiny portrait of Roger Taylor was on the stamp and therefore common sense should prevail. In addition the Queen herself as well as Freddy Mercury’s family and Roger Taylor himself gave their consent to the stamp”. Based on this no action to withdraw the stamp was taken.

Stamps not affected