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King Charles' Passport? He Doesn't Need One!
12 Jun
Summary
- The reigning monarch does not require a British passport for overseas travel.
- King Charles visited 10 countries since September 2022 without a passport.
- Queen Elizabeth II also never carried a passport during her 70-year reign.
King Charles has embarked on international travel to 10 countries since ascending the throne in September 2022, notably without requiring a passport for any of these journeys. Official guidance from the monarchy confirms that the reigning sovereign is exempt from carrying a British passport. This exemption stems from the fact that British passports are issued in the name of His Majesty, rendering one unnecessary for the King himself.
This tradition mirrors that of his predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II, who completed 70 years of reign and visited 117 countries without ever needing to carry a passport. During her reign, the passport's internal wording requested assistance for the bearer of His Majesty's Secretary of State. Other senior members of the Royal Family, including Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales, are required to travel with passports.
Most recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the wedding of Peter Phillips. Following the ceremony, they promptly traveled to Epsom Downs Racecourse, opting to wear their wedding attire for the event. The bride, Harriet Sperling, wore a custom gown and a vintage tiara loaned by Pragnell, a nod to a previous royal wedding precedent.
