A key passport change is coming into effect this week for the first time in over 70 years. UK passports are currently issued in the name of Her Majesty, but from this week new passports being issued will be done so in the name of King Charles III.
This is the first time since 1952, when Charles' grandfather King George VI was on the throne, that passports have bared the title "His Majesty." Passports currently state: "Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”
The change has been described as a a "new era in history" by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, reports The Liverpool Echo. She added: "For 70 years, Her Majesty has appeared on British passports and many of us will not remember a time when she did not feature reports.
"Today marks a significant moment in UK history as the first British passports since 1952 start featuring the title of His Majesty, the King." However, unlike everyone else, the King does not have a passport nor does he require one when he travels overseas.
When Charles was the Prince of Wales he did have a passport, but now as sovereign he no longer needs one because British passports are issued in the monarch's name. The first page of a passport contains a representation of the Royal Arms, which will now read: "His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary."
These new passports will be introduced in a phased approach until all remaining stock featuring "Her Majesty" are exhausted. This is a similar approach to Royal Mail, who at the request of King Charles, will use up the stamps with the image of the late Queen Elizabeth on them so that there is no wastage.
Despite the change to passports, UK passports issued in the name of the late Queen remain valid travel documents. Additionally, Her Majesty's Passport Office is now known as His Majesty's Passport Office.
The Home Office said, in the first six months of 2023, more than 99% of the five million passports processed were sent out within the standard UK service of 10 weeks, and the vast majority well within this timeline, but people should still continue to apply in advance.
It was found that in 2022, only 95.4% of passports were issued within the 10-week timeframe. A report by the Public Accounts Committee found hundreds of thousands of passport applicants were let down by "unacceptable delays" last year.
Due to this people were unable to travel for family emergencies, lost money spent on holidays or had difficulty proving their identity, and that the "confusion and frustration of customers" was exacerbated by weaknesses in how the Passport Office tracked processing times and the performance of its contractors.
