Record revealed
Freddie Mercury’s naturalisation certificate
Freddie Mercury was naturalised as a British citizen in 1969. This record tells the story of how he emigrated from Zanzibar to the UK and became a rock music icon.
Images
Image 1 of 3
Freddie Mercury naturalisation certificate page one, 1969. Catalogue reference: HO 334/1421/117889
Transcript
HO 334/1421/117889
117889
Home Office Form R1 (Second Copy) B. 211808
British Nationality Act 1948, Section 6 (1)
Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, Section 12 (2)
Application for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies made by a British Subject or Citizen of the Republic of Ireland on the ground of ordinary residence or crown service
Caution: to give false information on this form purposely or recklessly is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment (British Nationality Act 1948, Section 28 (1)).
- I, Frederick/Farrokh BULSARA of 22 Gladstone [Avenue], Feltham, [Middlesex]
am of full age and capacity and was born at Zanaibar (Tanzania) on 5th September 1946
- My father’s full name is Bomi Bulsara and he was born at Bulsar, [British] India on 14th December 1908
- I am single (married) (a widower) (a widow) (divorced from my wife/husband)
- My (wife’s) (husband’s) full name (is) was…. And (she) (he) was born at … on…
- I am (a) a citizen of the following country or countries mentioned in section 1(3) of the British Nationality Act 1948, that is to say Zanzibar (Tanzania).
- (a) I am ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom
- (a) I have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and colonies during the last five years as follows:
19 Hamilton Close, Feltham, [Middlesex] from 4-5-64 to 31-8-64
122 Hamilton Close, Feltham, [Middlesex] from 1-9-64 to 28-10-64
22 Gladstone [Avenue], Feltham, [Middlesex] from 29-10-64 to present day
PTO
Image 2 of 3
Freddie Mercury naturalisation certificate page two, 1969. Catalogue reference: HO 334/1421/117889
Transcript
8. The special circumstances in which I desire that the period of ordinary residence of Crown service shorter than five years which is mentioned in paragraph 7 above should be accepted are as follows:….
9. I (have not) previously renounced or been deprived of citizenship of the United Kingdon and Colonies. [If the applicant has renounced citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies, here state the date on which the declaration of renunciation was made; and if the applicant has been deprived of citizenship, state the date on which, and the authority by whom, the order of deprivation was made.
10. I hereby apply to be registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies. [The application must be signed in the presence of one of the persons specified in the Appendix to the Instructions.]
I, Frederick/Farrokh Bulsara so solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoing particulars stated in this application are true and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true.
(Signature of applicant) F. Bulsara
Made and subscribed this 21st Day of March 1969
Before me D S Mahany at Feltham
(signed) D S Mahany
[Here state whether Commissioner of Oaths, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or other authorised person specified in the Appendix to the Instructions]
A commissioner of oaths
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE
The above named applicant has been registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies
[signed] B Pinsent.
2 [June] 1969
Nationality Division,
Home Office, London
Image 3 of 3
Freddie Mercury in concert at Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland, 1986. Copyright: Carol Lee / Alamy
Why this record matters
- Date
- 2 June 1969
- Catalogue reference
- HO 334/1421/117889
Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) is known to millions as the lead singer of the rock band Queen. He is widely celebrated for his powerful vocals and songwriting talent. Freddie was born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 in Zanzibar, then a British Protectorate in the Indian Ocean just off the coast of East Africa. He and his family arrived in Feltham, West London in October 1964.
Zanzibar had been a British Protectorate since 1890. It was a key centre of trade for spices, in particular cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon. Under the Zanzibar Act, passed by the UK government in December 1963, the territory was no longer part of the British Empire. Zanzibar became a constitutional monarchy (in which the monarch is head of state but the country is governed by elected officials) within the Commonwealth under the Sultan of Zanzibar. A month later, the Sultan was overthrown during the Zanzibar Revolution and a republic was established. In April 1964 the Republic of Zanzibar joined with Tanganyika, the mainland, and was known thereafter as Tanzania.
Freddie and his family were among a number of British colonial staff and their families who left Zanzibar in the aftermath of the revolution. Settling in Feltham, Freddie enrolled in the graphic art and design course at the Ealing Technical College and School of Art (now part of the University of West London). In 1969 Freddie graduated college and became a British citizen by naturalisation. This is the legal process by which a person changes their nationality. To do this, he had to complete this form detailing personal information including his full name, birthplace, residence, and father's name. The form was then approved by the Home Office. The National Archives holds most of the surviving paperwork for successful naturalisations, up until 1986, including Freddie's.
In the early 1970s, Freddie sang in bands in London. He became friends with Brian May and Roger Taylor, forming Queen in 1970. Freddie changed his name by deed poll at around this time. He appears to have opted not to enrol (make public record) this change of name with the High Court, so there is no permanent record of this in the public records. This is common, as enrolling a change of name by deed poll was more expensive and not a legal requirement.
Queen broke through in Britain in 1974. Their popularity soared with the release of Bohemian Rhapsody in October 1975, which stayed at number one for nine weeks. By the early 1980s, Queen were drawing enormous crowds to their elaborately staged concerts. The band appeared at Live Aid in 1985 with Freddie’s spectacular performance going on to be a key cultural moment in musical history. The band continued to record and release music throughout the 1980s.
On 23 November 1991 Freddie announced that he had been diagnosed with AIDS. He died from complications arising from his illness the following day. Freddie was 45 years old. Queen continued to release music after his death and his voice was still featuring in their work as late as 1995.
In 2022, the US Library of Congress included Bohemian Rhapsody in the National Recording Registry. It is catalogued as: ‘an over the top musical thrill ride whose six minutes contained more technology-stretching bravado than most bands’ entire careers.’