Royals to be evacuated from London if Brexit prompts riots

British officials have revived Cold War emergency plans to relocate the royal family if there are riots in London if Britain suffers a disruptive departure from the European Union next month.

“These emergency evacuation plans have been in existence since the Cold War, but have now been repurposed in the event of civil disorder following a no-deal Brexit,” the Sunday Times said, quoting an unnamed source from the government’s Cabinet Office, which handles sensitive administrative issues.

The Mail on Sunday also said it had learnt of plans to move the royal family, including the Queen, to safe locations away from London.

Britain’s government is struggling to get parliamentary support for a Brexit transition agreement with the EU before the departure date of March 29, and the government and businesses are preparing contingency plans for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.

Business groups have warned of widespread disruption if there are lengthy delays to EU imports due to new customs checks, and even possible shortages of food and medicine.

Last month an annual speech by the 92-year-old Queen to a local women’s group was widely interpreted in Britain as a call for politicians to reach agreement over Brexit.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Conservative MP and keen supporter of Brexit, told the Mail on Sunday he believed the plans showed unnecessary panic by officials over a no-deal Brexit, as senior royals had remained in London during World War II bombing.

But the Sunday Times said an ex-police officer formerly in charge of royal protection, Dai Davies, expected the Queen would be moved out of London if there was unrest.

“If there were problems in London, clearly you would remove the royal family away from those key sites,” Davies was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Queen - the longest reigning monarch in British history - is about to mark 67 years on the throne.

Princess Elizabeth became Queen on February 6, 1952 on the death of her beloved father George VI.

The monarch is only three years away from her Platinum Jubilee - 70 years on the throne - which would be a first for a British sovereign.

The British government is already planning a Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2022 to showcase the UK’s strengths and coincide with the jubilee year.

It is not yet known how grand celebrations for the milestone jubilee would be, falling in the year the Queen turns 96.

But the royals were out in force for a weekend of Diamond Jubilee commemorations in 2012 with a Thames river pageant, a Buckingham Palace picnic and pop concert, beacon lighting across the country, a carriage procession and a service of thanksgiving.

The Queen is expected to spend the 67th anniversary of her accession on Wednesday privately at Sandringham, where she has been staying during her annual winter break.

Gun salutes by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park and the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London will be fired to mark the occasion, as is tradition.

Princess Elizabeth was just 25 and in Kenya on a Commonwealth tour when George VI died in his sleep after suffering lung cancer.

The Queen’s coronation took place 16 months later at Westminster Abbey in June 1953. with PA