A high social status can be helpful in many ways. Only three people are so privileged that they do not even need a passport when travelling.

Before setting off for the airport, it’s worth doing a final check: Is your passport really in your bag? There are only three people in the whole world who don’t have to worry about this. And it’s not just because an assistant takes care of all the organisational details, but simply because they don’t need a passport.

One of them is Charles III. Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as of 14 other Commonwealth countries. If Charles leaves the island and travels to another country, he can do so without any documents. The reason for this can be found on the Royal Family’s website: “When the Sovereign travels abroad, he does not require a British passport. As a British passport is issued in Her Majesty’s name, it is not necessary for the King to hold one himself.”

All other members of the royal family including Queen Camilla and William, the Prince of Wales hold passports, the document goes on to state. To ensure that the King is not in fact refused entry, the Foreign Secretary, a post currently held by Ed Miliband calls for him to be “granted free passage without permission or hindrance and provided with the necessary assistance and protection”.

Charles III is the head of the following states

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and sovereign states. In 15 of these, King Charles III is the head of state. They are, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The other two people who enjoy Passport free travel are Naruhito and Masako

The only other figures to enjoy a special status comparable to that of King Charles III are the Japanese imperial couple. Noruhito and his wife Masako do not hold passports either. The background to this dates back to 1971. At that time, the Tenno, the Japanese term for Emperor was due to undertake a foreign tour, including visits to the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided that it would be inappropriate to issue the Emperor with an ordinary or diplomatic passport and to subject him to the usual passport and visa procedures. This rule was also extended to the Empress and remains in force to this day.

So how do the Imperial Couple cross the border? When travelling abroad, everything is arranged through diplomatic channels between Japan and the host country. The Japanese Government officially announces the visit in advance and provides the necessary documents and information.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg-Germany)