Who Owns Royal Mail And Post Office

Royal Mail is owned by the Czech-based EP Group, controlled by billionaire Daniel Křetínský, who acquired the company in April 2025 for £3.6 billion following approval from the UK government^[4]. This marked the first time Royal Mail, established over 500 years ago, fell under foreign ownership. The UK government retains a so-called golden share, but Royal Mail is fully operated as a private entity within the EP Group’s portfolio^[3].

The Post Office is a separate entity from Royal Mail and is state-owned. Officially known as Post Office Limited, it is wholly owned by the UK government and operates as a public corporation providing postal and financial services through its nationwide network of about 11,500 branches^[6]. Almost all branches are run by franchise partners or subpostmasters, while a small proportion (the Crown Post Offices) are operated directly by Post Office Limited.

References

• [1] Royal Mail – We Own It
• [2] Mutual options for Post Office Ltd. – GOV.UK
• [3] Ofcom’s “reform” of Royal Mail opens the spigots for Křetínský’s …
• [4] Royal Mail – Wikipedia
• [5] Royal Mail’s 2025 Postal Overhaul: A Strategic Pivot for Financial …
• [6] Post Office Limited – Wikipedia