Becoming British.

Life is full of surprises.

Three years ago, I attended a British Citizenship Ceremony at the Register Office in Weybridge – it was my own. After having lived in the UK for more than 30 years as an EU citizen, I decided that it was time to acknowledge formally that the UK had become my permanent home.

On 6 July, I attended another British Citizenship Ceremony at Surrey County Council. However, this time it was my privilege to welcome new citizens to the UK – and the county of Surrey in particular – as High Sheriff. What an honour.

I was struck again by the moving nature of the ceremony. It is the culmination of months and sometimes years of assembling all the relevant paperwork; revising for and sitting the “Life in the UK” test; travelling to and from appointments; and a fair amount of patiently waiting for everything to be processed. Reciting the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the King and making the Pledge to the United Kingdom, promising to respect its rights, freedoms, and laws, and to uphold democratic values, is an emotional moment.

Following a lusty rendition of the National Anthem, Surrey’s newest citizens left the County Council to celebrate their new status with family and friends – they can now truly call Surrey their home, just as I have made it mine.