I don’t like to be negative here but been following this thread for last 2 weeks! We go on holiday on 6 April and my granddaughters renewals have been at HMPO since Mid January and the other early February. They are both stuck in processing for over 2 weeks with no movement. Calling every day and told something different. A lot of the staff are rude or clueless and repeat over and over again 10 week rule. An automated message could do the same job! There is obviously no queue system and if you are unlucky enough to be waiting on a manual examiner then sorry you are doomed!!
Looks like our family holiday for their Papa retiring is not going to happen! Last time passport office was in this mess at least they escalated people travelling in the near future! Apologies for the rant but actually raging 😡