A beloved children’s writer missed one of the biggest moments of his career after being stopped from boarding a flight due to a passport issue, yet the day still ended with unexpected good news.
Michael Rosen, the famous author behind the classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt, was set to attend the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy. The 79-year-old writer had been shortlisted for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, one of the highest honors in children’s literature.
But instead of arriving at the event, Rosen was turned away at the airport gate due to a technical rule involving his passport.
Michael Rosen, children's author, during the 2019 Hay Festival on May 25, 2019 in Hay-on-Wye, Wales.Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images
According to The Independent, Rosen left his home early in the morning, traveled to Stansted Airport, and went through check-in and security without problems. The issue only appeared when he reached the boarding gate.
He explained what happened: “I go through the check-in and I go through security and I go through all that, finally get to the gate and present my passport and ticket.”
Airport staff checked his passport and found that it did not meet European Union travel rules for UK citizens. While his passport was still valid until 2026, it had been issued more than 10 years before his travel date, making it ineligible for entry under post-Brexit regulations.
The rule requires that passports must be issued less than 10 years before the date of entry, even if the expiry date is still valid.
Rosen admitted the mistake but explained why it happened: “You can tap me on the wrist, and say, ‘you fool Rosen – you should have read the regs’.”
“Well, there’s a simple reason for that: because I was a guest, I didn’t see any travel documents. They just sent me a ticket which I then popped into my wallet on my phone,” he added.
Event organizers had arranged his trip but were unaware of the unusual passport issue affecting some UK travelers.
Although he missed the event, Rosen’s day took a surprising turn when he received a phone call after returning home.
“There is a happy ending to this story,” he said. “I came home and one of the first calls that came in was an Italian lady telling me that I had won the Hans Christian Andersen Award.”
The award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in children’s literature, making it a major milestone in Rosen’s long career. He has written more than 200 books and is widely respected as a storyteller, poet, and educator.
Still, he admitted feeling a bit disappointed about missing the moment in person.
Ha! I’ve just been refused entry onto a plane from Stansted to Bologna because my passport issue date is March 2016. The expiry date is August 2026 but the rule is 10 years from issue date. Another Brexit benefit. Apparently. Go home now.
— Michael Rosen ???? NICE 爷爷 (@MichaelRosenYes) April 13, 2026“I’m a little bit sad that I wasn’t at the announcement, to bask in the glory and all that,” he shared. “But I’ve had a happy day basking in that glory.”
Rosen also noted that because the trip was arranged for him, he did not lose money from the incident.
“If I had paid for the ticket… I would have been a little bit more miffed, but, as you can see, I’m still smiling.”
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