‘In the name of Her Majesty’: Here’s how UK passports will change after Queen Elizabeth II’s death

The demise of Queen Elizabeth II has sparked questions on whether or not UK passports will must be modified and even when they’re nonetheless legitimate.

Her Majesty died on Thursday 8 September at Balmoral in Scotland and will probably be succeeded by King Charles III.

Her demise has led to uncertainty about official paperwork and papers which use her title as a assure.

The place does Queen Elizabeth II function in UK and Commonwealth passports?

On their opening pages, British passports comprise the phrases: “Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires within the title of Her Majesty all these whom it might concern permit the bearer to cross freely with out let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such help and safety as could also be crucial.”

The Queen can be talked about in messages on the entrance pages of passports from New Zealand, Canada, Australia and different Commonwealth nations.

New Zealand for instance has the phrases: “The Governor-Common within the Realm of New Zealand requests within the Title of Her Majesty the Queen all whom it might concern to permit the holder to cross at once or hindrance and in case of want to provide all lawful help and safety.”

That is additionally repeated in Māori, referencing the Queen as “Kuini Erihapeti Tuarua”.

It has led to questions on social media about whether or not passports are nonetheless legitimate with this wording that mentions the Queen. One Twitter consumer requested if they may now must have their passport modified following her demise.

Can I nonetheless use my passport now the Queen has died?

The straightforward reply is sure. Whereas the wording within the entrance of those passports should be altered to mirror King Charles III taking the throne, it’s prone to be a gradual change.

Very similar to stamps, cash and all the different methods the Queen’s iconic picture has made its manner into UK life over the past 70 years, updating passports received’t be a speedy course of.

Folks with passports that make point out of Her Majesty will solely have to vary them as soon as they expire and are up for renewal – often 10 years from once they have been issued.

Regardless of the Queen’s demise, they may nonetheless stay legitimate for journey till that date.

New passports will probably have modified wording that tweaks “her” to “his” to mirror the brand new King. However no date has been given but for when this alteration will probably be made.

The Australian passport workplace has already issued a message to say that the manufacturing and issuance of Australian passports will probably be “unaffected by the demise of Her Majesty the Queen”.

They are saying that passports stay legitimate and wording will change sooner or later to mirror the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.