Now I am officially Charlie

Ask me to speak at your event outside of the UK, because, hurrah, after the challenging process of changing my name officially to Charlie, my passport renewal application with my name change has finally been approved!

If any of my UK friends want to change their name, this is the process I went through:

1) Made a Deed Poll document. I did this myself in Word, and two of my neighbours witnessed my signature. The text you need is on the Gov UK website.

2) Changed my name with whoever I could change it with who did not need a passport or driving licence as proof.

3) Passport application, they need the old passport, the deed poll (original) and two official letters with the new name (I used a payslip and a letter from HMRC).

4) When I get my new passport, I’ll be able to change it everywhere else, including my driving licence and my pension scheme.

I don’t hate my previous name Charlotte, which my parents chose from their bookshelf, naming me after Charlotte Brontë, who I love. Like George, the tomboy in the Famous Five books, I do not feel that a girl’s name fits me. I’ve always preferred the more gender neutral name, Charlie.