Italy on Tuesday paid homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II by issuing a commemorative postage stamp almost exactly a year after her death, Italian news agency Ansa reports.

The stamp, one of only very few issued by Italy in honour of a non-Italian, was unveiled at a ceremony at the business and Made in Italy ministry in the presence of Minister Adolfo Urso and the British Ambassador to Italy, Edward Llewellyn.

It shows the Queen in various moments of her life as Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Ansa reports.

Representatives of the Italian mint, Post Office and Business and Made in Italy ministry also attended the ceremony.