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‘Final speech’ from Queen in event of Nuclear War released

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Today, documents which were previously classified were released by the National Archives. It included a final speech which was prepared in 1983 for Her Majesty The Queen to read out in the event of nuclear war.

The ‘final speech’ starts off by saying, “When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas.”

This speech was prepared in 1983, one of the most dangerous and tense years of the cold war. According to the Daily Mirror, it was part of a secret Whitehall file, codenamed ‘WINTEX-CIMEX 83’.

Throughout World War 2, The Queen’s father – King George VI – was seen as a symbol of national resistance and along with the rest of the Royal Family. The speech was prepared to be similar in tone to King George’s famous speech at the outbreak of WW2 (popularised by the film The King’s Speech).

In the outbreak of nuclear war, it was planned for Her Majesty to be taken on board the Royal Yacht Britannia where she would be kept safe. This was primarily because The Queen is the only person who can appoint the Prime Minister and if the Prime Minister had been killed in the action, she would need to appoint a new Prime Minister immediately.

The full text of the speech is below.

When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas.

Our thoughts were concentrated on the strong links that bind each generation to the ones that came before and those that will follow.

The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.

Now this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.

I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939.

Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.

We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history.

The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies above our cities and towns but the deadly power of abused technology.

But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.

My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country.

My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.

It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown.

If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.

My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it.

As we strive together to fight off the new evil let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be.

God Bless you all.

photo credit: Madison Guy via photopin cc