Katie Melua, the singer, became a British citizen yesterday by swearing an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
The Georgian-born singer took part in a citizenship ceremony along with her family. Melua, 20, who became Britain's biggest-selling female artist last year with her debut album Call Off The Search, moved to Britain aged eight.
She said: "This is extremely special for me and my family. As a family we have been very fortunate to find a happy lifestyle in this country and we feel we belong here.
"We hope we have also made at least a small contribution to the country. We still consider ourselves to be Georgian, because that is where our roots are, and I return to Georgia every year to see my uncles and grandparents, but I am proud to now be a British citizen."
Melua moved from Georgia to Northern Ireland as an eight-year-old when her father took a job as a cardiac surgeon in Belfast. When she was 13 they moved to Redhill, Surrey, where they still live. Yesterday's ceremony took place in nearby Weybridge.
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The Georgian-born singer took part in a citizenship ceremony along with her family. Melua, 20, who became Britain's biggest-selling female artist last year with her debut album Call Off The Search, moved to Britain aged eight.
She said: "This is extremely special for me and my family. As a family we have been very fortunate to find a happy lifestyle in this country and we feel we belong here.
"We hope we have also made at least a small contribution to the country. We still consider ourselves to be Georgian, because that is where our roots are, and I return to Georgia every year to see my uncles and grandparents, but I am proud to now be a British citizen."
Melua moved from Georgia to Northern Ireland as an eight-year-old when her father took a job as a cardiac surgeon in Belfast. When she was 13 they moved to Redhill, Surrey, where they still live. Yesterday's ceremony took place in nearby Weybridge.
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