The Royal Mail is to release eight new stamps commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, featuring archive photographs highlighting key moments during her 60-year reign.

The special jubilee stamps will be issued on 31 May and feature images of the Queen performing official duties both at home and abroad.

Significant royal moments depicted on the stamps include her first Christmas television broadcast and celebrations of the Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Royal Mail chief executive Moya Greene said: "The Diamond Jubilee, only the second in royal history, is a very important anniversary."

"The whole world's attention will be drawn towards this special occasion.

"We are proud to mark the occasion by celebrating the official roles of the Queen with distinctive and memorable images, many of which have not been widely seen before," she added.

The Queen's 60-year reign is already the second longest for a British monarch. Queen Victoria ruled for 63 years and seven months.

The stamps will be available at all Post Office branches and can also be bought online at www.royalmail.com for one year.

This is the third and final stamp issue in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The first was the House of Windsor and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha issue, which was available from 2 February. The second was the Diamond Jubilee definitive sheet, issued on 6 February - the same day the queen ascended the throne in 1952.

Diamond Jubilee Stamps PHOTOS
Common Wealth Games, 1982 The Queen, as head of Commonwealth, is seen here at 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Garter ceremony, 1997 Every June, procession and service take place at Windsor Castle for Order of Garter. Founded by Edward III in 1348, order is most senior, and oldest, British order of chivalry. In service, Queen formally invests new companions of Order of Garter in throne room at Windsor Castle. Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
First Christmas TV broadcast, 1957 Queen Elizabeth II was first British monarch to embrace the then new technology of television for traditional Christmas address to nation Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Inspecting the troops, 2007 Queen is commander-in-chief of UK’s armed forces. She is seen here inspecting 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh at Tidworth, Wiltshire, on 1 March, 2007 Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations, 1977 Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Golden Jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, 2002 Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Addressing United Nations, 1957 Royal Mail
Diamond Jubilee Stamps
Trooping the Colour, 1967 Trooping the Colour celebrates monarch’s official birthday every June. Queen took salute on horseback until retirement of favourite charger, Burmese, in 1986. Royal Mail