politics
My lovely French husband has made the ultimate sacrifice for me – he’s now officially British
In Leeds Civic Hall, I watched 20 new citizens pledge their allegiance to King Charles and his heirs. But it wasn’t patriotism that brought tears to my eyes
TL;DR
- The process of becoming British involved an "idiotic" test, significant cost, and lingering uncertainty.
- The husband faced potential immigration issues due to travel plans before receiving his British passport.
- The citizenship ceremony took place at Leeds Civic Hall, described as a place with "historical gravitas."
- A doctor deferred citizenship due to work commitments, while others proceeded despite concerns about travel.
- The ceremony was characterized as kind, laid-back, and gently funny, with practical advice given, such as not laminating certificates.
- The oath-taking and pledging of allegiance were group efforts, culminating in the declaration of new citizenship.
- The author was moved to tears by the significance of the event for her husband and by the diverse group of new citizens.