INDIVIDUALS who become a British citizen in Hampshire this year will be welcomed with a special gift to commemorate The Queen's 90th birthday.

Hampshire County Council's registration service will present the commemorative coin to all those who become a British citizen between April 21 and the end of June, to mark Her Majesty's significant milestone.

Councillor Roy Perry, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "Becoming a British citizen is a special time in someone's life as they decide to make the United Kingdom their permanent home. This great sense of occasion is even more palpable during current celebrations for The Queen's 90th birthday.

"We warmly welcome all our new citizens to Hampshire, and we hope that the coins will make a wonderful keepsake."

At a citizenship ceremony in Basingstoke on May 5, 40-year-old Romany Girgis Ewada, originally from Sohag in Egypt, became a British citizen.

Romany lives in Romsey with his 44-year-old wife Teresa, who explained how much British citizenship means to them as a couple.

She said: "It was a lovely day and the staff were so welcoming to us. Seeing Romany become a British citizen now means that we can stay and live together here which is a great feeling, and we also have the freedom to travel and see family across the world."

Hampshire registration service regularly conducts citizenship ceremonies at which new citizens will swear or affirm allegiance to The Queen and make a pledge of loyalty before being presented with a citizenship certificate.