People are only now discovering the surprising reason why they get letters with the handwritten ‘P’ on the front

The inner workings of Royal Mail remain a mystery to the layman, but people have noticed a certain letter of the alphabet appearing on their letters and have been keen to find out why.

On Reddit, a curious commenter asked, “Can anyone tell me why all my letters from the past few days have a ‘P’ symbol written on them?”

The after to the Casual/UK subreddit was accompanied by an image of a “private and confidential” letter with the capital P handwritten on the front.

Helpful Redditors quickly intervened to report that the letter means that the postman also has to deliver a package to your address, or to the neighbors.

“It’s the postman’s way of reminding themselves that when they come to post your letter, there’s a package waiting for you too,” one person explained. That’s so they don’t post your letter and then find out halfway down the street that they forgot to knock and give you your package.

Or sometimes they write P10 or something similar on the previous letter, so they know they have a parcel for the neighbors (number 10), but no letter.

Another agreed, saying: “It means Package. For yourself or for the next delivery. It is a reminder for the postman/postwoman’.

This was echoed by another user who said: ‘You had a parcel/parcel. Makes sure we don’t forget!’

But some were still surprised, with one user asking: ‘Solved! But who does this? It makes perfect sense, but does anyone initially check parcels/letters to check if items are going to the same house or something?’

Another user, a posty, clarified herself: “The posty does it. What I do is: Letters are placed in the frame. Packages above. When sorting the packages, turn the letter over onto the house letter.

‘Bundle the letters, usually number them 1-20 odd. Place in the shopping cart in reverse order, the packages on one side with letters on the other.

‘Then I get the bundle of letters plus parcels for the street, which I will make before I go back to the cart.

‘I have a note of the parcels so I can make sure I have them all. And I’ll do my best not to play cards with you.”

Another theorized: ‘Yes, it’s this, or usually a P and a number next to it so you know which house.’

But some came up with funny anecdotes: ‘I once received mail with the postman’s shopping list on the back’.

Another mailman shared, “I’ve delivered all kinds of letters with stuff on the back. Memories: Tracey tells Dave her PIN number. Shopping lists etc etc. Don’t assume it’s the mail.’

And some were even more baffled by the postman’s package of their choice: ‘I have a theory that postmen have all the nerve endings in their legs when they get to the post office.

‘My postman walks around in shorts, while even my Rottweiller doesn’t feel like going for a walk because it’s so cold or wet.

Another Redditor replied: ‘I joined RM (Royal Mail) not too long ago and I’m slowly starting to understand the love for shorts. It’s still cold outside, but walking really warms you up! Because the legs are extended, the temperature is regulated and you can move around easily.’