Cadet's fury with passport that's 'disrespectful to the king'

Former Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters cadet Ian Thompsett, 45, paid £88 to renew his passport earlier this month and was excited when it was delivered in just two weeks.

But his joy soon turned to disappointment when he opened the first page to see it refer to “Her Britannic Majesty” and “Her Majesty” instead of “His Majesty” – which he believes “disrespects” Charles’ ascension to the throne.

He has now called on the government to update all passports to ensure “the King’s reign is respected”.

Mr Thompsett said: “The King was crowned in May but the very first page refers to the Queen.

“There is nothing about the King at all and it really upset me.

“My first thought was ‘have I been diddled?’.

“I wondered whether it was fraud.

“You just don’t expect that the government would be so lax that something with the Crown’s stamp would be out of date.

“The King’s coronation should be reflected.

"It is disgusting and a total insult to her memory and to our King's position as head of state.”

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Mr Thompsett ordered the passport as he is going to Amsterdam to see Coldplay (Image: SWNS)

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The father-of-three met the Queen in 1993 when serving as a cadet in what was then the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.

Now a DJ living in Rugby, Mr Thompsett ordered the passport as he is planning to go to Amsterdam to see Coldplay next month.

He added: “I vividly remember meeting the Queen in 1993 when I was an army cadet in what was then the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.

“I was lucky enough to be a standard bearer for a visit she made to a memorial in Crook, Derbyshire.

Mr Thompsett's passport (Image: SWNS)

“She was very, very nice and I was very, very proud to have met her.

“She was a huge part of our lives and deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

“It is equally important for Charles as the King to be respected in the same way.

“He is now our King whether people agree with his past or not.

“We should respect that and the Passport Office should follow suit.”

The change from “Her Majesty” to “His Majesty” on the inside cover of passports will be implemented in a “phased way from this summer”, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said previously.
Meanwhile the first UK coins with the effigy of King Charles III were released in December 2022, followed by the first stamps in April.

The Home Office, which oversees the Passport Office, declined to comment.