A request for US rapper 50 Cent‘s phone number was among the oddest enquiries sent by Britons abroad to the Foreign Office this year.
Other calls to the department included a complaint from a holidaymaker about the quality of the food on his flight, and a request for embassy staff to retrieve a pair of headphones from a French hotel room.
The Foreign Office has revealed details of a number of unusual enquiries they received in 2019 and reminded the public of the things officials can assist them with.
A spokesman said: “While we can’t hand out famous rappers’ phone numbers, collect your lost property or advise on Windsor Castle’s dress code, our dedicated consular staff are there to help Brits who run into trouble when they’re abroad.
“Read our travel advice before you go away, make sure you have appropriate travel insurance, and if you get into difficulty, you can call the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.”
A British couple in China who “had engaged the services of a sperm donor wanted to know if our staff could verify the nationality of the sperm as British”, according to the Foreign Office.
Another caller rang to enquire about obtaining a British passport for their son, who had been born overseas, on the basis that the parents were certain he had been conceived in the UK.
A woman in Sweden rang up to ask what she should wear to Windsor Castle after being invited to an event at the royal residence.
Another enquiry came from a couple thinking of relocating to Lisbon who wanted to know how removal companies managed to get large items of furniture into the city’s small apartments.
Assistance the Foreign Office can provide to UK citizens who are overseas includes the issuing of emergency travel documents and advice on what to do if you are imprisoned.
Staff can also help people get in touch with family and friends abroad, put people in contact with local services such as lawyers, doctors and translators, and help with visits to people who have been admitted to hospital.
Press Association
