In a baffling twist of bureaucracy, a South West England mother was left heartbroken when her daughter’s passport application was rejected—not due to any issues with the application itself, but because the child’s name was deemed too controversial by the Passport Office. The reason? The six-year-old’s name, Khaleesi, was allegedly trademarked by Warner Brothers, thanks to its popularity from the hit series *Game of Thrones*.
Lucy, a 39-year-old mother, had been eagerly planning a dream trip to Disneyland Paris for her family. The joyous anticipation of their first holiday together turned into frustration and disappointment when she received a letter from the Passport Office. The letter stated that because the name “Khaleesi” was trademarked by Warner Brothers, the application could not proceed without the company’s approval.
“I was absolutely devastated,” Lucy told the BBC. “We had been looking forward to this holiday for so long, and then to receive such news—it was a crushing blow.”
The notion that a fictional character’s name could be trademarked was a shock to Lucy. She had never imagined that naming her daughter after a beloved TV character could create such complications. After the rejection, Lucy sought legal advice and discovered that, indeed, her daughter’s name was legally permissible. Armed with this information, she attempted to rectify the situation with the Passport Office.
Lucy’s frustration was palpable. “I was astonished. I never thought you could trademark a name. If she could get a birth certificate, why was this issue only flagged now?” she questioned.
Despite Lucy’s attempts to resolve the matter through standard channels, it was only after she took her grievances to social media that the issue gained traction. “If I hadn’t posted about this online, nothing would have been done. I would have been left in limbo, unsure of what to do next,” Lucy said. Her social media post garnered widespread attention and support, and it seems this public outcry was instrumental in prompting the Passport Office to address the issue.
The Passport Office eventually called Lucy to apologize for the mix-up and confirmed they would process Khaleesi’s passport. However, Lucy remains skeptical about the efficiency of the bureaucratic system, noting, “I believe the issue was only resolved because of the social media exposure. Others have reached out to me saying they’ve faced similar issues.”
As she awaits the arrival of her daughter’s passport, Lucy remains hopeful that her story will shine a light on the quirks of bureaucratic red tape. “I’m hoping that sharing my experience will help others who might be in the same predicament. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that people now know this problem can be resolved.”
Lucy is now waiting for the Passport Office to finalize Khaleesi’s passport before booking their long-awaited trip to Disneyland Paris. Her ordeal underscores a growing frustration with the convoluted and sometimes absurd obstacles faced by ordinary citizens, highlighting the need for more sensible and streamlined processes in government services.
