An FBI file relating to a visit to the US by the late Queen Elizabeth II has revealed a potential plot to assassinate her.
The document, available on the FBI’s online vault, outlines what appears to be intelligence provided to federal agents about a threat to the queen’s life in California 40 years ago.
The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, made an official visit to the west coast of America in February and March 1983.
The file states that a phone call was made by “a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet”.
It adds: “This man additionally claimed that he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge on to the royal yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park.”
The file refers to a club which “has a popular reputation as a republican bar that is frequented by sympathisers with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)”.
Another document, among more than 100 pages published by the FBI online, this time relating to the queen’s state visit to the US in 1991, reveals concerns that Irish groups were planning to protest against the monarch’s attendance at a baseball game as well as a White House event.
The information came from the Philadelphia Irish paper titled Irish Edition.
“The article stated anti-British feelings are running high as a result of well-publicised injustices inflicted on the Birmingham Six by the corrupt English judicial system and the recent rash of brutal murders of unarmed Irish nationalists in the six counties by loyalist death squads,” the file said, referring to six men falsely accused on a pub bombing in 1974.
“Though the article contained no threats against the president or the queen, the statements could be viewed as being inflammatory.
“The article stated that an Irish group had reserved a large block of grand stand tickets.”
A separate file among the documents, dated 1989, pointed out that while the FBI was unaware of any specific threats against the queen, “the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is ever present from the Irish Republican Army (IRA)”.
Americans pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II – in pictures
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Taste of Britain owner Rukhsana Aguilar, originally from London, said her Norcross, Georgia, shop has had many customers arrive condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. EPA -
A moment of silence is observed for Queen Elizabeth before a match between Caroline Garcia of France and Ons Jabeur of Tunisia during the semifinals of the US Open in New York. AP -
A moment of silence at the US Open. AP -
Key West Community Services staff members position a purple sash around the Southernmost Point marker in tribute to Queen Elizabeth in Key West, Florida. AP -
A photo of Queen Elizabeth is displayed before an MLS soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and Austin FC at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. AP -
A tribute billboard for Queen Elizabeth is seen on Eighth Avenue in New York. Getty Images / AFP -
Singer Harry Styles pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth following her passing at his concert in New York. Reuters -
Myers of Keswick, a pub in New York, featured a tribute to the queen. Getty Images / AFP -
A kiosk displays a tribute message for Queen Elizabeth on Second Avenue in New York. Getty Images / AFP -
A tribute billboard for Queen Elizabeth is seen on Eighth Avenue in New York. Getty Images / AFP -
Queen Elizabeth, the longest-serving monarch in British history, died at the age of 96. Getty Images / AFP -
Even jaded New Yorkers stopped and took a moment to take in the tributes. Getty Images / AFP -
A tribute to Queen Elizabeth is displayed before a Los Angeles Rams football game. AP -
Philadelphia Phillies' players stand before a baseball game against the Miami Marlins for a tribute to Queen Elizabeth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AP -
A bird flies by as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth appears on the screen of the Nasdaq MarketSite billboard in Times Square in New York. Reuters -
Chicago White Sox players stand for a tribute to Queen Elizabeth before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, California. AP -
Tributes were left outside the British embassy after the death of Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images / AFP -
Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8. Getty Images / AFP -
The US flag flies at half-mast at the Capitol in Washington following the death of Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
The Empire State Building in New York is lit in purple in celebration of the life and legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
A view of the Empire State Building from across the East River. AFP -
New Yorkers stop in the street to take in the tribute to the queen at the Empire State Building. AP -
Members of the New York Yankees stand during a moment of silence in honour of Queen Elizabeth before the game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Getty Images / AFP -
A patron writes in a notebook with messages about Queen Elizabeth as her state funeral is replayed at the British restaurant and pub Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica, California. EPA -
Leon Lopez wears a commemorative Queen Elizabeth shirt as he stands behind the bar at Ye Olde King's Head. EPA -
Patrons watch a replay of the funeral at Ye Olde King's Head. EPA -
Melissa Adams wore mourning clothes to watch a replay of the funeral at Ye Olde King's Head. EPA -
Sam Nishi reads a copy of the British Weekly at Ye Olde King's Head. EPA -
A memorial decorated with flowers, candles and photographs is set up at Ye Olde King's Head pub. EPA -
A couple embrace while talking about the passing of Queen Elizabeth at Ye Olde King's Head. AP -
A Queen Elizabeth impersonator at Ye Olde Kings Head. Photo: Lisa Powers -
Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, has drawn hundreds of people paying their respects at a tribute to Queen Elizabeth. EPA -
Benjamin Bruskin signs the condolence book in the lobby of the office building of the British consulate in Los Angeles. AFP -
Jorge Kamine signs the condolence book in the lobby of the office building of the British consulate in Los Angeles. AFP -
Los Angeles City Hall is illuminated in red and blue to honour Queen Elizabeth. The queen visited the state in 1983. AP -
A billboard in honour of Queen Elizabeth stands near the Los Angeles Rams' NFL venue in Inglewood, California. AP -
A man walks his dog as Los Angeles City Hall is illuminated in red and blue to honour Queen Elizabeth in Los Angeles. AP -
The Texas Rangers observe a moment of silence to honour the passing of Queen Elizabeth before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Getty Images / AFP -
Images of Queen Elizabeth on casino marquees are reflected in glass barriers along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. AP -
US President Joe Biden signs a condolence book with first lady Jill Biden while paying respects following the passing of Queen Elizabeth at the British embassy in Washington. Bloomberg -
Members of the public gather before dawn to watch the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth at The Queen Vic in Washington. EPA -
The funeral was predicted to be the most-watched event in television history. EPA -
The entrance of a pub called The Queen Vic in Washington. EPA -
All televisions at The Queen Vic in Washington were tuned into the funeral. EPA -
Washington's The Queen Vic, where people gathered before dawn to watch the funeral. EPA -
A person wears a mourning headdress while watching the state funeral at The Queen Vic pub. AFP -
The US flag above the White House in Washington is lowered to honour the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
With the Washington Monument in the background, the American flag flies at half-mast over the White House. AP -
Visitors walk beneath US national flags flying at half-mast at the base of the Washington Monument. EPA -
Members stand for a moment of silence as the UN General Assembly meets during a special session to pay tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth at UN headquarters in New York. Reuters
