Travelling after citizenship ceremony - EU citizen

[contorted_svy]

Hi all,
I received my citizenship ceremony invitation today (horray!)
while I was waiting, I booked travel for the end of December (my dad has cancer and will get surgery soon, so I was planning on visiting). I have an Italian passport and they are in Italy.
As they delayed letting me know by almost two weeks (!!) it appears I only have until the 28/12 to attend the ceremony, and the first one available is on the 20/11, which wouldn't leave me enough time to apply and receive my first adult British passport by the 16/12, which is when I have booked my tickets. I haven't seen any option to book for a private ceremony, but I have inquired with the council.

I know this question gets asked a lot - I would like to ask for your pinion on what is best to do:
1) contact the council and ask if I can delay until January, so I can keep travelling on my Italian passport and hold settled status until then, or try to get a private ceremony (may not be available quickly though and they will take 3 working days just to reply to my inquiry!)
2) attend the first ceremony available, not apply for a passport straight away, and travel on my Italian passport + naturalisation certificate,
3) attend the first ceremony available, apply for the passport, and then contact HMPO to speed up the application explaining the situation with my dad's health, and hope they expedite the process.

What is the less risky option, in your opinion?
Many thanks!

[alterhase58]

Congratulations!
Personally I would go for #2 which is probably the safest without worrying about waiting times and travel deadlines.
Just one note, use the certificate only when arriving back at the UK border (it's not a travel document as such). You may be able to use eGates in which case you won't have to talk with a UK Border official, but if you have to offer the certificate as proof. Note that British citizens have an absolute right of abode and cannot normally be refused entry. With the certificate it could take a few minutes longer compared to presenting a British passport. Many people have reported on this without any disasters experienced.
Hope it all works out.

[contorted_svy]

Yes - I know it's not a travel document, but as you say it is my only way to prove I am British in case they question why I don't have an immigration status. I usually use the eGates so it should be fine and there is no visa requirements for Italy so I should reasonably be fine, I will apply for a passport as soon as I will be back, unfortunately the timeline to apply straight away and do everything by the book is too tight. Thank you for your response.

[contorted_svy]

I was able to get an earlier ceremony after explaining my situation to the council, so I'll attend on the 30 Oct. This gives me 6 weeks for the passport application, which should be enough to hear back - or to follow up if it gets to the beginning of December. It's risky, but it should be fairly doable.