Royal Mail's last Christmas posting dates for 2020 amid service delays

Royal Mail has confirmed the deadline for sending cards, parcels and gifts to loved ones to arrive in time for Christmas.

With less than a fortnight to go, there's only a few day left to post items amid delays in deliveries due to coronavirus restrictions.

It comes as Royal Mail is facing huge delays in service due to ‘exceptionally high volumes’ due to a surge in online Christmas shopping.

The postal delivery service blamed longer delivery times on social distancing rules in place in local mail centres and delivery offices.

Royal Mail has confirmed the deadline for sending cards, parcels and gifts (Getty Images)

A shift to online shopping means there are 200million more parcels in the postal and courier system this year.

John Lewis, Boots and HMV are among the chains to blame the firm for delivery delays, while small business owners say that it is damaging their reputation.

Royal Mail has taken on 33,000 seasonal workers in 2020 and to cope with demand as more people turn to online orders amid lockdown.

Royal Mail is facing huge delays in service due to ‘exceptionally high volumes’ (Moment Editorial/Getty Images)

The website states: "Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for international deliveries.

"Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe."

Here is a handy guide to the deadline for last posting dates for Christmas 2020:

Royal Mail's last Christmas UK posting dates for 2020

Royal Mail’s latest recommended posting dates for delivery in the UK in 2020 are:

Friday December 18

For second class mail and second class signed for

Monday December 21

For first class mail, first class signed for and Royal Mail Tracked 48

Tuesday December 22

Royal Mail Tracked 24

Wednesday December 23

For special delivery

International services

Unfortunately, the last posting dates for International Economy destinations have mostly passed.

There are some countries in Europe that can still be reached by International tracking and signature services:

Wednesday December 16

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland

Friday December 18

Belgium, France, Luxembourg