A potential clash with the Tall Ships 2000 event meant Bermuda's stamp lovers missed out on the newest royal issue from Britain.

The 35 stamps were launched in London to mark the 18th birthday of Prince William, but Bermuda is not among the six British colonies who are selling the issue.

Bermuda Postmaster General Cleveland Crichlow said their release coincided with the release of the special Tall Ships 2000 stamps and it was decided not to go ahead in offering them to avoid having two issues out at the same time.

But he said it was done with the knowledge that Bermuda would have a special royal family anniversary edition later in the year.

"They asked us to join the issue but because it was coming very much at the same time as the tall ships, we didn't want to have two issues in the same month,'' said Mr. Crichlow.

He added that the anniversary issue would include the birthdays of the Queen Mother, Princess Anne and Princess Margaret.

The 35 Prince William stamps have been issued by Ascension Island, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha and Fiji, a former colony.

They use various authorised pictures and bear the royal insignia, which denotes approval by Queen Elizabeth II. But there is anger in the UK that none of the stamps feature the late Princess Diana. Charles approved them, saying they were chosen "to reflect the youthful optimism'' of the Prince.