Royal Mail Christmas Stamps Spark Online Debate Over “Muslim” Design
By
Homeland Security Today
December 3, 2025
Royal Mail 2025 Christmas Stamp Set
Royal Mail, the official postal service for the UK, unveiled its Christmas 2025 stamps featuring scenes from the Nativity and ignited an online controversy. The collection – illustrated by award-winning British artist Paula Doherty and depicting figures like the Archangel Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the shepherds, and the wise men – has been praised for its elegant artwork using styles such as inlaid marble, enameling, marquetry, and collage. However, it has also drawn criticism from those who questioned the artistic interpretation, specifically suggesting the imagery was “Making them look Muslim.”
What is the Controversy?
The debate overtly centers on the depiction of Mary wearing a head covering, which some critics mischaracterize as drawing from Islamic religious aesthetics such as a hijab, but it’s also easy to see the references to the non-white skin color.
Comments from X:
“I’m sure, in an age where Anne Boleyn is black somehow, this is out of innocent desire to portray things with historical accuracy. Definitely not just endless antiwhite propaganda.”
“Another attcak [attack] on Christmas & Christians!”
https://www.hstoday.us/global/royal-mail-christmas-stamps-spark-online-debate-over-muslim-design/