Re: UK Passports abroad are not that much fun either
How would she have got back to the UK if her parents (or someone else) were suddenly taken ill during that process?
Much as she would if there was a delay getting it renewed in the UK and she had an urgent travel need. She would have gone to the Embassy/Passport Office with supporting paperwork and they would have issued an Emergency Travel Document, it's a standard procedure.
That wasn't a risk I was wiling to take.
Up to you, of course, but it's no big deal. An ETD can be issued very quickly.