Is this still normal for Britain?

[febgate16]

Something I find really interesting is how a lot of British people of a certain age (usually Baby Boomers or Gen X and above) who are middle-class or upper-class were born abroad. By this, I don’t mean they immigrated to the UK. But, they were born in like India or Singapore or some colony in Africa to their British parents and then moved back. Think Ruth Langsford, Cliff Richard, Fiona Bruce etc.

Is this a legacy of the British Empire or is this something that still happens among British people who have children born in random parts of the world?

Do you know anyone like this?

Just for completeness, Joanna Lumley was born in India.

I have a child born overseas by dint of DH working there and is getting a posting. We know lots in the same position. All highly educated, ambitious people whose skills are in demand.
i can’t say I know any WC or non-degree level families for whom this is the case.

Empire ......Commonwealth etc etc

I was born in the Middle East, and spent my childhood travelling. British parents, long line from Scotland and London. Dad started working in the oil industry back in the 60's, he and mum absolutely loved their years abroad. It was freedom.

my Granny was born in New Zealand (British parents) returned as a toddler
my Dad was taken to India as a pre-schooler, his dad was working there, but didn't stay long.
I lived overseas in middle east for 7 years as a kid, my parents were working there.
My kids grew up overseas as I lived in central asia for 8 years when my own kids were little

My mum on the other hand, none of her family have left the UK.

I think that plenty of Brits have had this experience. It maybe becuase we are a small country, so as soon as we travel, we go overseas.

actually just remembered, my mum's side do have this, her uncle married a canadian lady and they moved to Canada!

I know someone whose Granny was born in India circa 1910 ish but beyond that I only know of military families who had children born in Germany, Hong Kong or Cyprus.
I grew up near an American airbase so I know a of few children (now in their 50s/40s) who were American but born here in the UK. I was at school with some and they had American passports which caused confusion on a school trip to France.
I knew someone from the airbase who came across with her husband but they divorced. She stayed, remarried and had children only to discover years later she was technically here illegally. Ooops. It was sorted out though.

There are lots of people in the UK who emigrated here from British colonies, overseas territories and Commonwealth countries, or from the EU or the US. I live in SE London and I believe about 50% of the population in our borough were born abroad or their parents or grandparents were. All my next door neighbours fall into this category. Their roots go back to four different countries at least.

I agree with you, but I don't think that is what the OP means, I think she is referring to white Brits who were born elsewhere.
But I may be wrong

Unless military or diplomatic service family it’s unlikely by generation x, colonial times were over by then but international companies were fewer than today. More common by late 80’s/90’s to travel overseas for work for instance. One of my dc was born overseas

I know she was. Interesting that even in 2026 British can still mean 'white British' by default.

I have 2 cousins who were born on Malta as their dads were both in the Royal Navy and were posted there. I also went to school with lots of people who were born in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kenya, Gibraltar, Bahrain goodness knows where else because their fathers were in the forces. It was so unremarkable we didn't really think about it.
My great, great grandfather was born in Portugal in 1813. His father was in the army, was sent off to the peninsular war and his wife went too. She gave birth to 2 children en route. God knows how that happened, IYSWIM.

Actually, in addition to one of children being born abroad I’ve just realised by DH was too - in Malta. That was a Navy thing - flipping hoot of a posting in the early 60s!

You'll get fewer 'colonial born' people now as that's long in the past, but you'll still get people born abroad to military or engineering parents, or even finance/tech in Middle East I imagine.

Also as @TappyGilmore says - easier for people to travel these days so they may return to the UK to have babies.