Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest reigning monarch: This is what the Queen would have said in the event of a nuclear war

In her 63 years as Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II has overseen 12 British Prime Minsters, seven Archbishops of Canterbury, undertaken 270 official overseas visits, given assent to more than 3,500 acts of Parliament and had to sit through almost 40 Royal Variety Performances.

But there was one possible event Her Majesty was fortunate enough not to have contended with - a nuclear war. Civil servants did however prepare for the eventuality of an attack from 'Orange'(the USSR) after much posturing from the Soviet Union by drafting a message that would see the Queen inform the nation it was on the brink of World War Three.

The hypothetical speech, dated for 4 March 1983, was devised as part of the Government's Wintex-Cimex 83 war games exercise and references “abused technology” and “this madness of war”. In it, Her Majesty also describes intimates moments with her own family and address herself as one of the people in an attempt to comfort and steel the public in the face of such terrifying news.

Luckily, the speech never had to be delivered and it was released as part of an archive collection in 2013.

Her speech is in full below:

When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas. Our thoughts were concentrated on the strong links that bind each generation to the ones that came before and those that will follow. The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.

Now this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.

I have never forgotten the sorrow and pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939. Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.

We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history. The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies above our cities and towns but the deadly power of abused technology.

But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.

My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country. My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.

It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown. If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.

My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it.

As we strive together to fight off the new evil let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be.

God bless you all.