'WWIII Queen's speech' script revealed

Gerald · 08-01-13, 05:07 AM

In case of a major conflict....

Quote:

The Queen was expected to urge Britons to pray and remain united and resolute in the event of the "madness" of nuclear war, papers from 1983 show.The script for a hypothetical broadcast has the monarch describing the threat to the "brave country" as "greater" than any other in history.

It also mentions the Queen's son Prince Andrew, then in the Royal Navy.

The speech, devised by Whitehall officials at one of the most fraught Cold War periods, was never recorded.

The document, released by the government under the 30-year rule, was drawn up as part of a war-gaming exercise in the spring of 1983, which worked through potential scenarios.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23518587

Note: 1 August 2013 Last updated at 06:25 GMT

Oberon · 08-01-13, 05:43 AM

Personally, given we only had four minutes I'd have shortened it down a bit...something a bit more like:

"Oh...bugger..."

Jimbuna · 08-01-13, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Personally, given we only had four minutes I'd have shortened it down a bit...something a bit more like:

"Oh...bugger..."

Precisely

Gerald · 08-01-13, 07:47 AM

Rgr that!

Jimbuna · 08-01-13, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Personally, given we only had four minutes I'd have shortened it down a bit...something a bit more like:

"Oh...bugger..."

I wonder if there is a bunker underneath the palace...a coal bunker even

Oberon · 08-01-13, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I wonder if there is a bunker underneath the palace...a coal bunker even

Wouldn't make much difference, with the amount of sunshine that London would have got even a deep level bunker would be in trouble. It would essentially be a tomb for whoever was in it, it would be inaccessible for many many months after the explosions.

IIRC, in the likelihood of war with the Pact the monarchy would have been evacuated to a cabinet bunker (probably the Corsham bunker) and then flown out to Canada, presumably as soon as bullets started flying across the East/West German border.
Personally, I doubt she would have left London, not willingly anyway.

We had some good plans for preparing for 'The Big One' but all of them depended upon us getting decent warning that a war was about to take place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_to_war

Heck, Jim, you may well remember some of those plans, you'd have been on the very thin end of the wedge post-bomb, guarding food depots and putting down looters. Grim times.

vienna · 08-01-13, 01:18 PM

Here's a George Carlin bit he did on Carson's Tonight Show:

<O>

Jimbuna · 08-01-13, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Heck, Jim, you may well remember some of those plans, you'd have been on the very thin end of the wedge post-bomb, guarding food depots and putting down looters. Grim times.

Something along those lines but pretty exposed to everything regardless.

08-01-13, 07:47 AM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Rgr that! __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-01-13, 01:18 PM	#7
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Here's a George Carlin bit he did on Carson's Tonight Show: <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

08-01-13, 05:43 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Personally, given we only had four minutes I'd have shortened it down a bit...something a bit more like: "Oh...bugger..."