The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently released documents shedding light on a potential assassination threat that Queen Elizabeth II faced 40 years ago before her visit to the United States.
At the end of May, the FBI released a set of 103 pages on their online records platform called The Vault, unveiling details about the planning and arrangements made for Queen Elizabeth’s visits to the United States. This collection includes information about the Queen’s official visit to the West Coast in 1983, accompanied by Prince Philip.
One document highlights a tip from the San Francisco police about a phone call where an individual alleged that his daughter had lost her life in Northern Ireland due to a rubber bullet. The man said he would harm Queen Elizabeth by dropping something off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the Royal Yacht as it sailed beneath. He also threatened to kill her during her visit to Yosemite National Park.
The Secret Service intended to shut down the pedestrian walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge when the yacht approached. The documents do not provide any information regarding precautions implemented at the national park or disclose any details about potential arrests. The released documents demonstrate the FBI’s heightened vigilance regarding potential threats to the British monarch.
During several of the Queen’s US visits, the FBI maintained close surveillance, as disclosed in the documents, due to the persisting conflict in Northern Ireland. These security measures were influenced by the assassination of the Queen’s cousin, Louis Mountbatten, in 1979, when the Provisional IRA planted a bomb on his fishing boat.
One document, referring to a private visit to Kentucky in 1989, acknowledges that while the FBI had no precise threats against the Queen, the potential for threats from the IRA towards the British monarchy was constantly a concern. Another document expressed concern regarding the organization of protests by Irish groups at various planned events, such as a baseball game and an event at the White House in 1991. The FBI cited an article from the Philadelphia Irish newspaper Irish Edition, highlighting anti-British sentiments due to perceived injustices and brutal murders.