By Smartencyclopedia with agencies
Recently declassified FBI documents have unveiled a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth during her visit to either San Francisco or Yosemite National Park in 1983. This alarming discovery occurred during a period of heightened tensions related to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
In the lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s 1983 visit to the Bay Area and Yosemite National Park, an intriguing incident unfolded. A San Francisco police officer received a concerning call from an individual he had met at a popular Irish pub. The caller, seeking retribution for his daughter’s alleged death by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland, revealed his intention to harm the British monarch during her California visit, as revealed in recently released FBI documents.
According to the FBI records, dated February 4, 1983, the man outlined two potential scenarios for carrying out his plan. He mentioned the possibility of dropping an object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the Royal Yacht Britannia as it passed underneath, or alternatively attempting to harm Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Yosemite National Park.
In response to this threat, the Secret Service devised a plan to close the walkway on the bridge as the yacht approached, as reported by the BBC. The available documents do not detail the specific measures taken at Yosemite, nor do they disclose whether anyone was arrested in connection with the threat, according to the New York Times.
In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II embarked on a multi-day visit to California, beginning in San Diego and encompassing notable stops such as a Los Angeles film studio tour and a visit to President Reagan’s ranch in Santa Barbara, according to the New York Times. This visit took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions amidst the Troubles, a 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.
The Troubles witnessed significant loss of life, with approximately 3,600 people losing their lives. The British government deployed its military to Protestant enclaves, which sought to maintain Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom. The military often encountered opposition from groups like the Irish Republican Army (IRA), who aimed to reunite Northern Ireland with the rest of Ireland.
The threat against Queen Elizabeth’s life in San Francisco occurred four years after the IRA bombing that resulted in the death of her second cousin, Lord Mountbatten, off the coast of County Sligo in Ireland. The New York Times noted that the San Francisco police officer encountered the individual who expressed intentions to harm the queen at a pub called the Dovre Club, described by the FBI as a meeting place for IRA sympathizers.
Despite the assassination threat being handled discreetly by authorities, Queen Elizabeth’s visit to California proceeded with a festive atmosphere, leaving her with fond memories of a “wonderful and enjoyable journey,” as reported by the New York Times. However, there were some complications.
Due to a storm and rough seas, the original plan for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to sail into San Francisco Bay on the Royal Yacht Britannia, as they had done in San Diego, had to be abandoned. Instead, they arrived a day early on March 3 via plane.
The royal couple received a warm welcome at Davies Symphony Hall, where a concert was held in their honor, according to CBS Bay Area. However, tensions related to Northern Ireland manifested outside the hall, with pro-Irish demonstrators gathering to protest. Inside the venue, an Irish American protester briefly disrupted the events by shouting “Stop the torture” before being escorted out.
Accompanied by then-Mayor Diane Feinstein, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh had a delightful time during their visit to San Francisco. They had the pleasure of watching a performance by the cast of “Beach Blanket Babylon” and were serenaded by Tony Bennett, who sang his iconic song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Notably, the Duke of Edinburgh could be seen joining in and singing along to Bennett’s timeless melody.
For a glamorous dinner affair, Queen Elizabeth adorned herself with jewels and a tiara as she attended an event hosted by President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan at the M.H. de Young Museum, as reported by CBS Bay Area. The guest list was star-studded, including local luminaries such as Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Montana, and Steve Jobs.
During their visit, the royal couple embarked on a trip down the Peninsula to Palo Alto. They paid a visit to the headquarters of Hewlett-Packard and enjoyed lunch with the president of Stanford University.
The grand finale of their Northern California excursion took place in Yosemite National Park. They stayed at the renowned Ahwahnee Hotel, as noted by the New York Times. Afterward, they returned to San Francisco, where Queen Elizabeth hosted a dinner aboard the Britannia in celebration of the Reagans’ 31st wedding anniversary.