Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Why this Tinkerbell can’t fly to loved ones
WOMAN WHO CHANGED NAME BY DEEDPOLL CAN’T GET HER NEW PASSPORT APPROVED
A WEST London woman has been so far denied a passport after changing her middle name to ‘Tinkerbell the real Goddess.’
Natalie Bell, 41, who lives in Fulham, first applied for a passport in September but has still not received one after being made to repeatedly jump through hoops.
She said: “Someone at the passport office is making it more difficult than they should.
“Of course there are rules but as long as it’s not derogatory shouldn’t be a problem.”
She legally changed her middle name via deed poll in August from Simone to TinkerbelltherealGoddess and applied for a new passport shortly after as she was planning to visit her grandparents in she needed permission from Jamaica. Disney, the copyright holders of the
She said: “They’re old and they name Tinkerbell. live in Jamaica. They’re in their 80s She contacted them and after two and 90s. It’s important I get out months were told it’s not Disney there.” related and that they didn’t have an
But, despite providing all the issue with her using the name required documents, the passport unless it was for advertising purposes. office came back to her insisting it
Having gone back to the passport office she was then asked to go speak to Great Ormond Street Hospital, which actually owns the copyright to Peter Pan.
The hospital in Holborn was gifted the rights of the play Peter Pan and its characters by author J M Barrie in 1929.
They assured Natalie that there was no issue from them as long as she didn’t use the name to raise money.
She then went back to the passport office, who told her to go back to Disney.
Natalie said: “It’s ridiculous. I can’t keep going back and forth about this.
“I felt that the examiner at the passport office was mocking me. I heard giggles during the conversation.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”
The passport application rules state: “An application using an existing trade or commercial name will require the applicant to provide written confirmation from the owner of that trademark or copyright that they consent to the use of that name or confirmation that the name in the public domain is not subject to any copyright or trademark restrictions.”
Natalie chose to change her name due to her love of all things magical.
She said: “You can see why I call myself Tinkerbell. I have a love for Disney and the fairy world.
“I wanted to change my name because I’ve been through a lot, certain experiences that make me think ‘Why the hell not?’
“I’ve survived so much and it’s something really close to my heart.”
According to the Deed Poll Office, renewing your passport after a name change should only take three weeks.
So far for Natalie TinkerbelltherealGoddess Bell, it has taken six months.