The citizenship pledge: a promise said out loud
At a citizenship ceremony, new citizens promise to protect the fundamental values of British society. This promise is called the pledge. In our own words, it says:
New citizens promise to be loyal to the United Kingdom and to respect its rights and freedoms. They promise to defend its democratic values, to keep its laws faithfully, and to carry out everything that is expected of them as British citizens.
Broken down, that makes four promises:
Be loyal to the UK
Respect rights and freedoms
Uphold democratic values
Obey the law and do your duty as a citizen
According to GOV.UK, the ceremony has two parts. First you swear an oath of allegiance, a promise to be loyal to the monarch; if you would rather not swear by God, you can make an affirmation instead, which has no religious words. Then you say the pledge. Ceremonies are arranged by the local council: if you are 18 or over you must attend one within 3 months of your Home Office invitation, and at the end you receive your certificate of British citizenship.
Quiz
At a citizenship ceremony, what do new citizens promise in the pledge?
The pledge is about loyalty to the UK, respecting its rights and freedoms, upholding its democratic values, and obeying the law and doing your duty as a citizen. Voting is not compulsory in the UK, and the pledge says nothing about joining the army or staying in the UK for the rest of your life.