Emma Beddington's French husband Olivier has officially become British, after a ceremony at Leeds Civic Hall that left her in tears. The couple attended the event in June, where Olivier and 19 other new citizens pledged allegiance to King Charles and his heirs. Beddington, a Guardian columnist, described the ceremony as "kind, laid-back and gently funny," and found herself moved by the collective act of becoming British.
A difficult decision
Beddington admitted she hadn't felt great about asking her husband to become British, citing the Life in the UK test, the cost, and the uncertainty. Olivier's application was accepted in June, but a planned holiday before he could get a British passport caused anxiety about potential re-entry issues. "He should, theoretically, be OK, but it's confusing," she wrote.
Despite her reservations, Beddington found the ceremony at Leeds Civic Hall to be a positive experience. She noted the building's golden owls, dark wood, and stained glass, which gave a "proper sense of historical gravitas." The registrar warned against laminating citizenship certificates and joked about pronouncing Olivier's name "with a Yorkshire twang," which she did.
An emotional ceremony
The business part of the ceremony was brief, with everyone swearing or affirming allegiance together. Beddington cried as the registrar declared them all citizens. She was moved by the other new citizens: a frail woman who walked unaided for her certificate, a teen in a white minidress receiving her A-level results the same day, and a grey-haired Chinese woman attending alone, among others.
The 20 new citizens came from Spain, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Eritrea, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, and South Africa. Beddington reflected that they had "done something hard for love, safety or a different life."
A golden moment
After the ceremony, Beddington and Olivier returned home on the train. She noted that the world hasn't gone grey for her husband, and for a moment, it felt "quite golden" for her too. The couple's journey highlights the emotional and practical complexities of acquiring British citizenship.
