I can't believe it!! I heard rumors a while ago, but I thought it would be greatly delayed because of COVID and the strikes. They'll probably use polycarbonate for the biometric page, which makes the passport much more durable. Thanks for sharing @shiremag, as always.
I'm ambivalent about the monarchy but I suppose it's meaningful in that way and would make the 9 years worth the wait. (And the news conference mentioned it's the queen's crown, not the king's.)
And this is my 5th passport as an adult and I have all 5 so... But I always like a shiny new, redesigned passport and this one looks SO COOL.
I will be applying for my passport in a couple days. Personally, I’m very happy I’ll be getting the existing one (and will have it for a whole 10 years). The new design does not roll out till “late summer” according to them (most likely sometime in late August).
I don’t think this new passport is all that. It’s nowhere near as dignified and stately as the existing design. The inside pages are simply a big joke. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose!