Queen would be ‘evacuated from London in event of no-deal Brexit riots’

Royal family would be whisked to a safe house away from capital if civil unrest unfolds

The Queen would be evacuated from London if riots broke out following Brexit, according to reports.

She would be joined by the whole royal family in a safe house away from the capital in an alleged revival of emergency Cold War plans should civil unrest unfold if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.

“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,” a cabinet office source told The Sunday Times.

The proposals have been dusted off as the chances of the UK leaving the EU without a deal becomes increasingly likely.

Experts, business groups and MPs – including cabinet members – have warned of potential widespread disruption if no agreement is reached before the country’s departure date on 29 March, with civil unrest, food and medicine shortages and gridlock touted as possible outcomes of a no-deal Brexit.

In such a situation, officials say they are right to consider the threat of civil agitation and the safety of the 92-year-old monarch.

But prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Mail on Sunday that the contingency proposals show unnecessary panic in Whitehall, pointing out that senior royals remained in London during the Blitz.

In January a speech by the Queen to a Women’s Institute group was widely interpreted as a call for politicians to reach agreement over Brexit.