The UK has now put into use a new passport described as the most secure version produced and bearing King Charles’s coat of arms on the front cover.
Pages inside reveal beauty spots from the four home nations of the UK: Scotland’s Ben Nevis; England’s Lake District; the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Three Cliffs Bay in Wales.
In 2020, the UK passport changed, switching from burgundy to dark blue following Brexit and Boris Johnson’s promise to bring back “beautiful new blue passports”.
The updated passport includes enhanced anti-forgery features, such as holographs and translucent pages, designed to make verification easier while reducing the risk of forgery or tampering.
Read also the related story on New Daily Prime: NIS to launch single travel emergency passport for stranded citizens abroad
According to the Home Office, 300 of the new passports were already in circulation.
The migration and citizenship minister, Mike Tapp, said: “I’m proud to see our new British passports in circulation. Featuring His Majesty’s coat of arms and landscapes from all four nations, they celebrate our heritage while delivering enhanced security.
“They are also the most secure British passports ever produced, helping us protect our borders and deliver outstanding public service.”
The first modern British passport was issued in 1915, and a watermark which is the first security feature was introduced in 1972.
Since then, more additional security measures have been added, including intricate patterns difficult to replicate and features visible only under UV light.
The Home Office confirmed that passports bearing the late Queen’s coat of arms remain valid until their expiration.
Since 2023, British passports have been issued in the name of King Charles, with pages referring to ‘His Majesty.’ However, until now, the cover continued to feature the coat of arms of the late Queen Elizabeth.
For more details, visit New Daily Prime at www.newdailyprime.news
