Lucy told the BBC that her passport application was initially rejected because officials claimed that approval from Warner Brothers was required, as the name “Khaleesi” is trademarked by the company.
“I was absolutely devastated; we were so looking forward to our first holiday together,” Lucy said. The 39-year-old mother had planned a “dream” trip to Disneyland Paris for herself and her daughter. “I received a letter from the Passport Office stating that her name is trademarked by Warner Brothers,” she recounted. “It was the first I’d heard of this—I was astonished.”
After seeking legal advice, Lucy discovered that her daughter was indeed allowed to use the name and shared this information with the Passport Office. “I didn’t understand and felt frustrated. If she could get a birth certificate, shouldn’t something have been flagged then?” she questioned. “I never realized you could trademark a name.”
The Passport Office later called Lucy to apologize for the mistake, assuring her that they could now process Khaleesi’s passport. Lucy believes this resolution only came about because she voiced her frustrations on social media.
“If I hadn’t shared this on social media, nothing would have changed. I would have been stuck, not knowing what to do,” she said, adding that others had contacted her with similar experiences.
Lucy is now waiting for her daughter’s passport to arrive before rebooking their trip to Disneyland Paris. “I hope the passport will be issued soon. They promised to call back in a few days to check on the progress,” she said.
Lucy also hopes her experience will assist others in similar situations. “There might be others who have had their passports declined for reasons like this. Hopefully, they now know it can be resolved,” she said.
