| Interview: Mandy Searles On Her Unique Tribute to The Queen At 80 |
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| Wednesday, 29 March 2006 | |||||||
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An Interview with Mandy Searles, designer of the First Day Covers for Her Majesty The Queen's 80th birthday stamps by Marilyn Braun "It has been a privilege to be able to share my knowledge of this captivating dynasty. Now, I have been given an even greater honor: to have a hand in celebrating the Queen's 80th birthday." Mandy Searles  You may not know her last name, but chances are, if you frequent royal websites, you will recognize her first. 25 year old Mandy Searles, a resident of the eastern United States, has been operating her popular website Mandy's British Royalty since 1998. A graphic designer by profession, she has recently completed a special commission for Chapman and Mitchell Covers to design the first day covers for the Royal Mail's stamps celebrating the Queen's 80th birthday. For stamp collectors and royal memorabilia enthusiasts, first day stamp covers are very collectable and, over time, can increase in value. The double-sided 80th birthday cover features images from various stage of HM's life and inside is a special birthday card. These covers are only available through Bletchley Park Post Office and will be released on April 18th 2006. MB: First of all, I'd like to congratulate you on this incredible opportunity. You must be very excited, how did you find out you got the job? Mandy: Thank you! Yes, it has been such a wonderful opportunity. Terry Mitchell emailed me and asked if I'd like to do it. I was ecstatic! We had spoken before, and from our conversations he remembered that I said I was a graphic designer. Knowing that I was also a huge fan of the Queen, he very graciously allowed me to design Her Majesty's 80th birthday stamp cover. MB: How long have you been a graphic designer? Mandy: I have been a graphic designer since 1998. I first entered a local community college to study the subject, and after graduating I took some time off to work. I returned to school in January of 2005, and I'm currently in the process of obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. MB: Could you provide some background in how you found out about this commission? Did you approach Chapman and Mitchell or did they approach you? How long has the process been? Mandy: I started work on the cover in December of 2005. As I mentioned, Terry Mitchell approached me to do the cover and I was very happy to help! He provided me with great advice and information for designing the cover. This is my first time creating a stamp cover, and it's been wonderful to work with him. The cover was officially completed as of this week (March 20th, 2006). MB: Was the time difference between the U.S and the U.K a hinderance? Mandy: No, the time difference was no trouble. Thanks to the internet, things can get done in no time at all from anywhere in the world. It's a wonderful thing! MB:How much creative leeway were you given in the design process? Mandy: As far as the actual design, I was given quite a bit of freedom. I just had to work around small specifications for measurements, i.e. the placement of cancel marks and Bletchley logos. MB: Prior to the cover and outside of your website, have you done other work combining royalty and design? Mandy: When I have class projects to do for school, I sometimes like to incorporate a royal theme into my work. For instance, one project was a newsletter, which I created hypothetically for the Prince of Wales. MB: The Queen has one of the most recognizable faces in the world, did you have a particular aspect of her that you wanted to convey? What was your inspiration? Mandy: I wanted to convey a person who is infinitely special, yet at the same time someone who is just like you or me. I have always had the impression that the Queen is a simple, down to earth, private person who must inhabit this incredibly historic role as monarch. Showing pictures of her as young 'Lilibet' rather than just "The Queen" conveys this well, I feel. MB: You're a great admirer of the Queen and regard her as a role model. How has she inspired you in your own life? Mandy: Her Majesty has inspired me by simply being herself. Dedicated, noble, and always calm in the face of adversity. She is such a lady, very delicate, yet not without a backbone of steel. If something seems daunting, I just think, "The Queen could do this". Her Majesty is a remarkable person. MB: I find that people don't understand my interest in royalty, do you find it difficult to be a monarchist in the U.S? Mandy: People here find it very unusual that I have such an interest in the Royal Family. I think it's because the U.S. does not have the same sort of traditional, ceremonial culture that Britain has. To many here in this country, the Queen or Prince Charles is just another celebrity. Many Americans may not understand the history behind the Royal Family. This is a reason why I started 'Mandy's British Royalty', to educate people in America about the British Monarchy and I feel I have succeeded. According to my site statistics, the top percentage of web traffic comes from the United States! I think it's wonderful. MB: How did your interest in royalty start? Mine started when Prince William was born, do you have a particularly nostalgic moment? Mandy: I had two sets of great-grandparents come from England, and I wanted to know more about them and what England was like. While delving into my family history, I learned a great deal about English culture, and naturally part of the culture is the Monarchy. I began to research family a bit less, and the royals more and more! They fascinated me, and when Diana, Princess of Wales passed away, I learned many things about her relationships with the Queen, Charles, Sarah Ferguson, et. al. That made me want to know even more about what the people were really like. It was very poignant, as I look back now. The birth of my interest came just as a major royal figure left the world stage. It was quite a turning point for the British Royal Family when Diana died, so I came in right at a new phase in the life of the monarchy. MB: If there is anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the design of the cover, please do. Mandy: Since starting Mandy's British Royalty eight years ago, I have learned much about Britain's history and heritage. My research, as well as discussions with people in Britain and other dominions, have helped me form an educational website that stresses the importance of the British Monarchy. It has been a privilege to be able to share my knowledge and admiration of this captivating dynasty. Now, I have been given an even greater honor: to have a hand in celebrating the Queen's 80th birthday. It has been a joy to work with Bletchley Park in creating this stamp cover. I thank them for giving me this chance to further express my admiration for the Queen, who is my inspiration for so many things in life. To members of the British, Australian, and Canadian public: thank you for giving me valuable insight on your Queen and country. God Bless, and God Save The Queen! For information on the covers and how to order them, visit the Bletchley Covers website and Mandy Searles personal website.
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