royal yacht britannia nuclear bunker

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

1953: Royal yacht “Britannia” – Last Refuge of the Queen in Case of Nuclear War

“Britannia” is 126 meters long. Interestingly, she was built in Scotland, not England. In the event that there was a nuclear war with the USSR, the yacht was supposed to serve as a refuge for the Queen.

On this day the new British royal yacht named “Britannia” set sail. It was launched, of course, on behalf of the ruling Queen Elizabeth II, and became her official vessel. It was the last British royal yacht to be commissioned. Interestingly, it was built in Scotland, not England.

“Britannia” is 126 meters long and could hold up to 250 guests. In addition, she had 250 crew and 21 officers, so that as many as 521 people could be onboard at the same time. The yacht had a 12,000 horsepower engine, allowing speeds of up to 39.8 km/h.

In the event that there was a nuclear war, the yacht was supposed to serve as a refuge for the Queen. Namely, in that case the queen was to board the yacht and sail away to a secluded cove on the north coast of Scotland (these secret plans came to light only recently).

On her maiden voyage, the yacht sailed from Portsmouth, England all the way to the island of Malta, which at that time was still under British rule. Over the years, many foreign dignitaries, such as U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, were guests aboard the “Britannia”.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana made their honeymoon cruise aboard the “Britannia” in 1981. The yacht also had an interesting part in the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from Britain to China. Specifically, Prince Charles and former British governor Chris Patten (now Lord Patten) set sail from Hong Kong on the yacht, symbolically leaving the former British possession. “Britannia” was retired in 1997 and the British royal family no longer has an official yacht.

Related posts

Whales trapped in ice in northern Alaska discovered – 1988

Auschwitz-Birkenau Rebellion (1944)

Russian imperial couple who toured Europe incognito (1776)

Helmut Lent – night pilot with more than 100 downed aircraft – 1944.

MORE SECTIONS

• Dear Deidre

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters
• Deliver my newspaper
• Sun Vouchers
• The Sun Digital Newspaper
• Racing Members Enclosure
• Fabulous Clothing

Inside top secret plan to save Royal Family from nuclear strike including ferry, yacht and bunkers

• Felix Allen
• Published : 17:16, 18 Mar 2022
• Updated : 17:23, 18 Mar 2022

WHITEHALL drew up secret plans to evacuate The Queen and other senior royals from London in the event of nuclear war.

Her Majesty and key ministers would have been whisked away to remote lochs in Scotland to ride out the attacks on "floating bunkers", historians say.

Officials began drawing up plans in the 1950s for "continuity of government" in the event of an A-bomb attack.

It would have seen Whitehall and Downing Street operations move to a vast bunker staffed by 4,000 civil servants in Corsham, Wilts.

The underground HQ - codenamed Burlington - even had a BBC studio so broadcasting could continue.

But the rise of ICBM rockets - and fears Soviet spies knew the bunker's location - meant a rethink after the Cuba missile crisis in 1962.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Secret Cold War bunker that could withstand nuclear attack on sale for £10k

I’ve been preparing for an apocalypse for years - here are my survival tips

Instead the plan was to disperse key people away from London to the far corners of the UK, with only core support staff at Corsham HQ.

The hope was that some would survive and would then be able to coordinate the government's response via secure communications.

The Queen, as head of state, has sole power to appoint prime ministers and so it was vital to keep her safe.

Operation Python came into force in 1968, declassified papers revealed five decades later.

Most read in News

Mystery as woman, 26, feared kidnapped is found in hospital five days later

Mum, 46, made final Facetime call moments before she was killed by train

Our pilot was sucked OUT of cockpit at 17,000ft… I’ll never forget chilling noise

Cop's warning over 'suspicious' meat that could spark 'serious health issues'

A memorandum from that year noted: “The details of these dispersal plans [Python] are among the most vital of Britain’s state secrets.”

Elaborate plans included using a number of ferries as "floating bunkers" around Scotland's coast.

The Queen and other royals would likely have been rushed away from London to various country houses - not known royal residences - during the "precautionary phase" when all-out war was feared.

A special unit of 1,300 soldiers was earmarked to guard them.

If there was time before an actual strike - a level three "catastrophic emergency" - the plan was to move to the monarch to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The boat would then have sailed between various lochs, hidden from Soviet radar by surrounding mountains.

“The Queen had to be kept separate because only The Queen can appoint a Prime Minister,” historian Peter Hennessy told BBC Radio 4.

“She could not be with the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet because they would get wiped out the moment they operated from this bunker.

"The signals traffic would give the [Soviets] a very good idea of what was happening.”

Castle bunker

For practical reasons, the plan called for the Home Secretary to be on board with the Queen.

The espionage expert added: “The Home Secretary was with her so they could have a Privy Council with the Queen's Private Secretary, the Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen to appoint the new government out of the ruins.

“She was going to lurk in the sea lochs of the North West coast of Scotland, moving at night from one to the other, because the mountains would stop the radar getting to her.” 

If there was no time to evacuate, The Queen could have take refuge in an underground bunker reported to have been installed at Windsor Castle.

There was even said to have been a bomb pressure indicator on the castle's lawn, allowing scientists to monitor the blast wave and see how far the devastation had spread.

The top secret hideaway was reportedly demolished during the devastating 1992 fire.

Experts say current contingency plans for nuclear war are likely to operate on the same idea behind Python.

Prince Charles and Prince William - as next in line to the throne - would be whisked away to separate secret locations.

Read More on The Sun

Nine chilling signs Putin is ‘suffering serious disease & on verge of breakdown’

Champions League quarter final draw sets up all-English semi for Chelsea & City

In 2019 it was claimed the Python scenarios were updated as part of Operation Yellowhammer plans for a No Deal Brexit.

Jermaine Jenas 'to RETURN to TV as he's handed career lifeline' after being axed

Tommy Fury breaks silence on 'false allegations' after Molly-Mae split

Reports claims there were plans to evacuate The Queen from Buckingham Palace in the event of riots.

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104 . You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours

Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.

• Nuclear Weapons
• World War 3
• Queen Elizabeth II

Royal Family: The Queen's secret nuclear escape plan in case the UK is attacked by a bomb

A declassified document reveals the Queen and the Royal Family will take refuge on a superyacht or a secret bunker

• 16:24, 26 FEB 2022
• Updated 16:28, 26 FEB 2022

The 12 - our free newsletter with all the news you need

We have more newsletters

Details of the Queen’s plan if the UK was to come under nuclear attack have been revealed. Buckingham Palace is braced to launch ‘Operation Candid’, which would see that the Queen and the Royal family would be well looked after either in a superyacht or a secret bunker.

The declassified document revealed that Her Majesty and family would disperse to country houses away from London but known residences, such as Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, would not be used, the Daily Star reports. Where there was sufficient time, the royal family would be evacuated to sea, with the Royal Yacht Britannia earmarked to keep them safe.

READ MORE: Ukraine claims Russia 'did not take a single city' during night as fight for Kyiv continues

The plan stated the royals would hide in lochs in Scotland. While the Queen was lying low, members of parliament would be sent to a bunker with the code name Turnstile, under Box Hill near Bath. This was so, in the case of any MP deaths, the Queen would be able to appoint a new Prime Minister in accordance with her duties as monarch.

If there was little time, the royal family would flee to the nearest seat of regional government, which included military bases and bunkers dotted across the country. However, it is not clear how much of the plan is still in place as it was devised 60 years ago.

Fears of a nuclear attack are growing after Putin gave a chilling warning to the West that an attempt to stop or interfere with his invasion of Ukraine would lead to "consequences never encountered in your history". It is understood that Russia holds around 6,255 nuclear weapons, with the US not far behind with 5,550.

• Kate Middleton
• King Charles III
• Most Recent

Geograph - photograph every grid square

Tq3380 : hmy britannia - boiler room, taken 27 years ago , near to bermondsey , southwark, england.

• Share... Share this photo via Twitter Share this photo via Facebook Share this photo via Pinterest Share this photo via Flipboard Share this photo via email/e-card Grab a Stamped/Watermarked Image

• Marked Images
• Collections
• Discussions
• Leaderboards

Discussion on TQ3380

Page updated at 00:26

Sitemap | Cookies | Credits | Terms of use | Get Involved

Meghan Markle's nine-word reply when courtiers blamed her for Harry quitting Royal Family

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their plans to step down as senior working royals in January 2020, with the former actress often being blamed for the decision

‘Street Thug’ Putin and His Allies Considering Invasion of 3 More Countries

What next for Vladimir Putin? Or, maybe, where next?Bogged down in the Donbas, humiliated by Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into the Kursk region, the Russian strongman faces the clearest threat to his authority since last year’s abortive Wagner revolt.And with his back against the wall, Putin is at his most dangerous, according to critics who describe his “street thug” mentality. The fear is that the Moscow bully could double down on his Ukraine gamble by making war on another front, taking o

Royal 'deception' over Archie's birth and Meghan Markle 'lied' to public in privacy bid

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed their first child, Prince Archie, in May 2019, however the birth of the couple's son deviated from the typical royal protocols

Prince Harry and William reunite at uncle's funeral on Duke's secret visit to UK

Prince Harry has made a rare return to the UK to attend the funeral of his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, and was joined at the service by his older brother, Prince William

BBC Morning Live's Gethin Jones says 'we're losing the best' as he bids emotional farewell to co-star

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones has bid an emotional farewell to one of his co-stars

Lily James' swimsuit is splitting opinions - here's why

The Pam & Tommy star soaked up the sun in the chicest swimwear, but not everybody is a fan...

Opinion - If Trump loses, expect a Republican civil war

Vice President Kamala Harris has a strong advantage in the 2024 election due to her ability to appeal to voters beyond Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and if she wins, it could lead to a civil war within the Republican Party.

Derelict estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' set to finally be demolished

An abandoned estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' is set to be finally demolished - despite its final residents vowing not to move. Derelict Clune Park has been virtually empty for years and pictures show it resembling something from a post-apocalyptic film. Built in 1905 it is made up of 430 flats in rotting tenement buildings as well as a rundown church - all covered in graffiti and litter. The estate in Port Glasgow was abandoned in 1997 and is now a ghost town with just a handful of residents chosing to remain. It has also become a magnet for urban explorers.

Chris Evans addresses death of child aged 3 at CarFest

Radio DJ shared the family’s plea to the public following the incident

Dentist says 'one mistake' is turning your teeth yellow

Dentist Dr Ferakh Hamid said one habit some people do could be causing more harm than good

ITV The Chase's Bradley Walsh red-faced as he's caught off guard by query from player

The Chase host Bradley Walsh was back on our screens as four new contestants went up against Dark Destoryer aka Shaun Wallace but one moment left the host shocked

Trump Served With Brutal Receipts After Ranting About Public Sleeping

"Who wants to sleep in public?" Trump asked. Critics answered.

Why a Labour plot to means-test the state pension would be a disaster

As Rachel Reeves’s first Budget approaches, pensioners are fearing the worst.

Rod Stewart responds to claims his 17-year marriage to Penny Lancaster has reached a ‘stalemate’

Reports suggested the singer had refused to move back to the UK with his wife

Would you know what to do if confronted by this traffic sign?

A video showing more than a dozen cars driving past large red crosses has gone viral on TikTok.

Royal yacht would have been used to protect Queen during cold war nuclear attack

The Queen would have been protected in a Cold War nuclear attack by being sailed around remote Scottish lochs on the royal yacht Britannia, newly declassified files reveal.

• 00:00, 12 Jul 2010
• Updated 11:31, 4 Feb 2012

The plan was to protect Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Home Secretary by turning the vessel into a "floating bunker" shielded from radar by mountains.

History expert Professor Peter Hennessy, who has examined the post-1963 files, said the plan was formed after it was feared Russians had discovered the Government's secret bunker near Bath.

Professor Hennessy, 63, said: "The Queen had to be kept separate because only the monarch can appoint a Prime Minister.

"She could not stay with the War Cabinet because they would get wiped out as they operated from the bunker." Ministers with power to launch a nuclear strike would have been spread around the UK.

Get email updates with the day's biggest stories

MORE SECTIONS

• Social Casino

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters

Inside top secret plan to save Royal Family from nuclear strike including ferry, yacht and bunkers

• Felix Allen
• Published : 13:16 ET, Mar 18 2022
• Updated : 13:23 ET, Mar 18 2022

WHITEHALL drew up secret plans to evacuate The Queen and other senior royals from London in the event of nuclear war.

Her Majesty and key ministers would have been whisked away to remote lochs in Scotland to ride out the attacks on "floating bunkers", historians say.

Officials began drawing up plans in the 1950s for "continuity of government" in the event of an A-bomb attack.

It would have seen Whitehall and Downing Street operations move to a vast bunker staffed by 4,000 civil servants in Corsham, Wilts.

The underground HQ - codenamed Burlington - even had a BBC studio so broadcasting could continue.

But the rise of ICBM rockets - and fears Soviet spies knew the bunker's location - meant a rethink after the Cuba missile crisis in 1962.

Instead the plan was to disperse key people away from London to the far corners of the UK, with only core support staff at Corsham HQ.

The hope was that some would survive and would then be able to coordinate the government's response via secure communications.

The Queen, as head of state, has sole power to appoint prime ministers and so it was vital to keep her safe.

Operation Python came into force in 1968, declassified papers revealed five decades later.

Most read in Royal

Real estate mogul left $34m in debt and had $8k in bank before his death

World’s most expensive yacht is made of gold & T-Rex bones - but does it exist?

All Costco stores will be shut for 24 hours forcing shoppers to change plans

Missing couple's 'killer' unmasked as cops hunt bodies at nudist resort

A memorandum from that year noted: “The details of these dispersal plans [Python] are among the most vital of Britain’s state secrets.”

Elaborate plans included using a number of ferries as "floating bunkers" around Scotland's coast.

The Queen and other royals would likely have been rushed away from London to various country houses - not known royal residences - during the "precautionary phase" when all-out war was feared.

A special unit of 1,300 soldiers was earmarked to guard them.

If there was time before an actual strike - a level three "catastrophic emergency" - the plan was to move to the monarch to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The boat would then have sailed between various lochs, hidden from Soviet radar by surrounding mountains.

“The Queen had to be kept separate because only The Queen can appoint a Prime Minister,” historian Peter Hennessy told BBC Radio 4.

“She could not be with the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet because they would get wiped out the moment they operated from this bunker.

"The signals traffic would give the [Soviets] a very good idea of what was happening.”

Castle bunker

For practical reasons, the plan called for the Home Secretary to be on board with the Queen.

The espionage expert added: “The Home Secretary was with her so they could have a Privy Council with the Queen's Private Secretary, the Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen to appoint the new government out of the ruins.

“She was going to lurk in the sea lochs of the North West coast of Scotland, moving at night from one to the other, because the mountains would stop the radar getting to her.” 

If there was no time to evacuate, The Queen could have take refuge in an underground bunker reported to have been installed at Windsor Castle.

There was even said to have been a bomb pressure indicator on the castle's lawn, allowing scientists to monitor the blast wave and see how far the devastation had spread.

The top secret hideaway was reportedly demolished during the devastating 1992 fire.

Experts say current contingency plans for nuclear war are likely to operate on the same idea behind Python.

Prince Charles and Prince William - as next in line to the throne - would be whisked away to separate secret locations.

Read More on The Sun

Moment Putin has speech mysteriously cut off during rally in Russia

In 2019 it was claimed the Python scenarios were updated as part of Operation Yellowhammer plans for a No Deal Brexit.

Read More on The US Sun

Missing couple's 'killer' unmasked as cops hunt bodies at nudist resort

William & Harry stood yards apart chatting to family at uncle’s intimate wake

Reports claims there were plans to evacuate The Queen from Buckingham Palace in the event of riots.

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104 . You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours

Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.

• Nuclear Weapons
• Royal Family
• World War 3

The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA evacuating personnel off Little Aden, January 1986

(MP442). Miscellaneous. Oil on board signed Richard Cosby and dated 2016.

12 copies worldwide

14 x 20 ins (35.5 x 50 cms) approx

on card:£100; on canvas £125

Purchase or enquire about this print

Explore our exclusive collection of framed prints featuring the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during its heroic evacuation mission off Little Aden in January 1986. This framed wall art beautifully captures a pivotal moment in naval history, showcasing the Royal Yacht's crucial role during a time of conflict.

On 14 January 1986, Her Majesty’s Yacht BRITANNIA, under the command of Rear Admiral John Garnier, was en route to New Zealand for Royal Duty with HM The Queen. As the Royal Yacht approached the Red Sea, it received distress signals about intense fighting between Government forces and rival Marxist factions in the former British Colony of Aden, now Yemen. The situation threatened the safety of foreigners, leading to the Royal Yacht being dispatched for an urgent evacuation of British and Commonwealth nationals.

Arriving off Aden at first light, BRITANNIA faced a chaotic scene with fierce fighting in the port area. On 17 January, BRITANNIA was joined by the destroyer HMS NEWCASTLE, frigate HMS JUPITER, fleet tanker RFA BRAMBLELEAF, and surveying ship HMS HECLA, along with MV DIAMOND PRINCESS from Cunard. Despite the restriction preventing warships from entering territorial waters, BRITANNIA anchored near Abyan Beach to facilitate the evacuation.

With white ensigns flying prominently, the Royal Yacht began its mission, working alongside Soviet ships. The rescue effort involved five of the six boats, despite challenging conditions and heavy surf. By midnight, BRITANNIA had evacuated 152 individuals of 26 different nationalities. The survivors found temporary respite in the Royal Dining Room and Drawing Room.

The following day, BRITANNIA continued the evacuation but had to halt due to rebel forces firing on government positions near the beach. With the situation becoming increasingly perilous, the yacht transferred French nationals to the French ship JULES VERNE and proceeded to Djibouti, where the remaining evacuees were disembarked. In subsequent days, evacuations continued under harsh conditions, with additional rescues by HMS NEWCASTLE and other ships.

Before resuming her voyage to New Zealand, BRITANNIA had successfully rescued 1,082 individuals, contributing significantly to the total of 1,379 saved by British ships. This poignant episode is captured in our seascape painting and wall art, ideal for nautical decor and marine art enthusiasts.

Our art prints online offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of naval artwork that celebrates the bravery and dedication of the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during this historic operation. For those interested in buying original art online, explore our selection of framed art prints and affordable original art to enhance your living room or any space in need of nautical wall decor.

10 Day Weather - Astrakhan', RUS

• Top Stories More News
• Today's National Outlook
• Hurricane Tracker
• Snow & Ski Forecast
• Cold & Flu
• Allergy Forecast
• Fire Updates
• Traffic Cameras
• Weather Cameras
• Outdoor Sports Guide