Queen Elizabeth II does not have/require a passport, when traveling abroad, making it superfluous for her to hold one, as British passports are issued in the name of Her Majesty.
The first page of British passports contains another representation of the Arms, together with the following wording:
‘Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.’
As a British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, it is unnecessary for The Queen to possess one.
All other members of the Royal Family, including The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales, have passports.
The first british passports known as safe conduct papers were first issued in 1414
Her Majesty’s Passport Office came into existence in May 2013 produces all UK passports. HM Passport Office is the sole issuer of UK passports and responsible for civil registration services through the General Register Office. HM Passport Office is part of the Home Office.
The inclusion of ‘Her Majesty’s’ in the title recognises that passports are the property of the Crown, bear the Royal Coat of Arms and are issued under the Royal Prerogative.
The design of British passports will change in 2019 when the UK leaves the EU. From late 2019, blue passports will start to be issued. Passports issued from 30 March 2019 will continue to be burgundy, but they will no longer include the words ‘European Union’ on the front cover.
In 2017, HM Passport office issued close to 50 million passports in the name of Her Majesty.
