My post-office generated passport is printed and arriving today - major excitement. I've received at least three messages reminding me to sign it in black ballpoint pen.

I'm fairly sure it will make me look like an East German terrorist from the 1970s, they always do, but it should allow me to cross borders anyway.

My new passport arrived on Friday. 8 days door to door - I'm impressed!! But what a ghastly colour! WTF was wrong with burgundy...

Now going to do a trial run with husband's 'fair' photo..... before tackling the 'boys'. Watch this space!

NB: does he really have to send copies of his entire US passport? Or is the Bio + (blank) page of 'Endorsements' sufficient?

Something called Brexit, I believe. Transiting via AMS last summer from France en route to LA, I noted that much signage had changed to reflect non-EU status of Brits.

BTW, my spouse had a US emergency passport issued in Paris. They are burgundy, but darker than the EU color. She kept getting advice to get a new regular blue PP. which she did upon return home. At least the fee for the emergency PP carried over to the new PP.

Oh yes, Brexit....... the gift that keeps on giving

For what its worth, blue was the traditional color of UK passports before 1989 or so. The burgundy was EU specific.

Out of idle curiosity, is the booklet labeled as being from Her Britannic Majesty or His Britannic Majesty? Who knows how many blank booklets were in stock.

I renewed mine back in October '23 and it came back as 'His Britannic Majesty'.

Just coming back to this thread - if anyone is interested....... between the four of us we had:
- Snappy Snaps with a code
- one photo from a private US passport photo shop which HM passport site judged to be 'good'
- one CVS photo that was 'fair'
- one CVS photo that was 'poor'
All 4 photos were accepted!! Make of that what you will...