ABBEY’S A FORTRESS
» Top-secret plans to halt Crown Jewels raid » Elite forces to back up thousands of cops
WESTMINSTER Abbey will be turned into a fortress to guard the Crown Jewels from an audacious Coronation heist.
The massive top-secret exercise, which is dubbed Operation Tower of London, involves thousands of police manning London’s streets.
It will be backed up by elite teams of armed guards, snipers and the military.
Dozens of undercover officers will mix with the crowds as the King and
Queen Consort travel to and from Buckingham Palace.
A source said:
“The operation is huge, certainly in a similar scale to that of the funeral of the Queen, the largest event in a generation.
“Every available arm of the police and security services has been dispatched.
“The exercise turns the Abbey into Operation Tower of London, focussing on maximum security and maximum lockdown.” The operation is headed by a joint task force consisting of a Met Police Gold Commander and MI5.
It will effectively turn the Abbey into the Tower of London in terms of security for Coronation regalia that never leaves the castle.
It can be revealed the King and Camilla have been rehearsing with replicas of the jewelled crowns, staffs and swords, created ahead of King George VI’s coronation in 1937. The couple also presented new Standards and Colours to the military at the Palace yesterday. They will also on show at next week’s Coronation. Elsewhere, an operation is under way to move the Stone of Destiny from Edinburgh to the Abbey. It will be its first trip to England since it was officially returned to Scotland after 700 years by then PM John Major in 1996.
The Stone of Scone was removed by King Edward I of England in 1296. It will be moved under tight security, following a raid in 1950, before being placed under the Coronation Chair.
Sources also revealed concerns over protesters plotting to disrupt the ceremony, including rape alarms being hurled at horses.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said he has received intelligence reports about potential disruption, adding: “We take this very seriously. I have been meeting with the Home Secretary, with the Culture Secretary, who has responsibility for the ceremonials.”
The Mirror can reveal jamming technology to block drones from flying near the Coronation will be used next Saturday.
The Civil Aviation Authority has imposed a “no-fly zone” over Central London amid concerns terrorists or protestors could target the event.
Counter-drone radar units will be set up on the procession route along with devices to block signals between pilots on the ground and their aircraft.
Thousands of uniformed officers will line the one-mile route between the Palace and Westminster Cathedral.
There will be armed officers on streets and snipers on rooftops, while small numbers of SAS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment troops will scan for security risks.
Rooftop teams with highpowered binoculars will help spot trouble-makers and terror threats.
Elite troops in plain clothes will look for “lone-wolf ” attackers”.
During an attack the SAS will fly in on “Blue Thunder” Dauphin 2 unmarked helicopters. Helicopters and police drones will help monitor crowds.
Motorbike escort riders, the Met’s horse-mounted branch, dog teams and a marine unit will be used.
Counter-terrorist specialist firearms Officers, dubbed Robocops, will be deployed along with fast response units on motorbikes.
A source said: “There will be a special forces presence but it will be very low-key.” Meanwhile, an Official Album of the Coronation will be available to download on May 6.
The historic recording, featuring music and spoken word from the ceremony, will aid the Royal British Legion and Age UK.
In the mini-kingdom of Poundbury, Dubonnet is proving a popular tonic with the locals. With Coronation Day fast approaching, people in the suburb of Dorchester built to King Charles’ vision of utopian town planning have developed a taste for the tipple.
“We always get a lot of requests for Dubonnet,” says Jonathan Charles, who owns local shop Dorset Wine Company.
“It was especially so when the Queen passed. And it looks like there will be a lot of toasts in memory of the Queen at the King’s Coronation.”
There’s also a rush on Wessex Coronation Edition Lemon and Rose gin, made especially to celebrate the big event.
Jonathan is restocking a display of the Wessex gin – in regal purple bottles – in his shop in Queen Mother Square.
He tells me sales have been strong and he’s expecting a surge just before the official celebrations start: “There are lots of street parties happening in Poundbury and people want to be well stocked for Coronation weekend. Fingers crossed the weather will be good.”
Rain or shine, locals will be toasting the historic day thanks to their special link to the King.
Poundbury is a collection of Coronation streets but not like those in Weatherfield.
Built on 400 acres of Duchy of Cornwall land near Dorchester, Poundbury – population around 4,000 – is based on specifications Charles set out in his 1989 architecture book A Vision of Britain – an “integrated community of shops, businesses, private and social housing”.
Construction began in 1993 and is expected to finish in 2025. The recreation of a classic English village mixes old-fashioned and modern eco-friendly touches.
The one big consistency is its regal theme, from the crown on the lampposts to the local gin. Jonathan says the latter is the perfect accompaniment to Dubonnet – a wine-based aperitif. “The Queen Mother liked to drink it two parts Dubonnet to one part gin, it was her favourite tipple.”
The central square in Poundbury is named after the King’s grandmother and its buildings also pay tribute to her.
Jonathan’s wine shop is in Strathmore House, next to Bowes Lyon Court – both nods to the Queen Mother’s Scottish heritage. Her father, Claude Bowes-Lyon was the 14th Earl of Strathmore.
Next door, another important figure in the King’s life is celebrated. The Duchess of Cornwall Inn, in Queen Mother Square, opened in 2016 and locals can enjoy a pint of Badger Beers’ new Ale to The King.
This pub and hotel doesn’t just bear the Queen Consort’s former title, its interior was designed with input from Camilla’s younger sister Annabel Elliot.
General manager Karl Drew says: “There was a lot of involvement from the Duchess’s sister. Every room has its unique design but Room 18 I think had some input from Queen Camilla herself.”
The room has a cosy, country house feel but its biggest selling point is the large bathroom with free-standing bath.
“We call it her room because it’s the room she’s used to change and freshen up in when she’s in Poundbury,” a
There will be a lot of toasts to the Queen at King’s Coronation
member of the housekeeping team says. Downstairs in the bar is Anne-Marie Scott-Masson. A retired interior designer, the 90-year-old has lived in Poundbury for 12 years and her daughter runs local furnishing shop Punica. When Anne-Marie first visited the town she wasn’t sure she wanted to there. Now she loves it.
"It really works. Exactly how the King intended,” she says. “Prince Charles wanted nobody in their old age, or young age with a pram, to have to walk more than 10 minutes to get milk or a newspaper. That is how it is.
"We have a butcher, baker and candle maker – everything.” The local supermarket is Waitrose, which stocks the Duchy organic food brand founded by the King in 1990. Anne-Marie was able to give her feed back directly to Charles.
"He’s very interested in all the local businesses. A couple of years ago, he came into my daughter’s shop. He shook my hand and was absolutely charming. He is going to be a fantastic king because he really does care.”
Anne-Marie’s only quibble is Poundbury has grown “much bigger than I expected”, though she adds: “Nothing is ugly. Everywhere is beautiful.”
Under the direction of planner Leon Krier, Poundbury pays homage to traditional architecture. It has been mocked as an architectural theme park, with building exteriors resembling the likes of Buckingham Palace and The Ritz hotel. Much of it is in the neoclassical and Georgian styles. “Some people say it’s not modern enough,” AnneMarie says. “But most architecture is based on previous architecture. Georgian architecture is based on Greek architecture, so it isn’t a valid argument. The King should be quite proud.”
Not everything is new. Councillor Richard Biggs, a former mayor of Poundbury, takes me to the garden centre, set in the original buildings of Poundbury Farm dating to the 1770s.
It is one of our green-fingered King’s favourite places here. “The King is known for his love of gardening,” Richard says. He recounts how, at his most recent meeting with Charles, he spotted soil under his fingernails. “He really is that down to earth.”
Staff member Yvette Roles, 60, agrees: “There are no airs and graces. I had relatives over from America once and it coincided with one of his visits. There were 40 people and he chatted to every one, including my gob-smacked relations. They were thrilled.”
Yvette grew up in Poundbury. She says: “It was all fields. The farmhouse is now the Duchy of Cornwall HQ.” Businesses are opening all the time including Sunset Boulevard hair salon, in March. Owner Tash Walbanke, 26, will put up bunting. “I’ll be open on Friday and Coronation Day Saturday as people want to look their best to celebrate,” she says. “I’m fully booked.”
“Poundbury is a destination for a lot of friends because it is so pretty – very Instagrammable. Parts feels like London, then you turn a corner and feel you’re in an Italian piazza.” Walking around Poundbury does feel like being on a film set – Bridgerton meets Notting Hill.
Mayor Janet Hewitt says that the King’s most recent visit was to open a play area. “He was very involved in the design. Now he has passed on the Duchy land to Prince William it would be lovely to see Princes George, Louis and Princess Charlotte playing here.”
But until then, there is a weekend of festivities to plan for – street parties, concerts, entertainers, a procession and the lighting of a beacon.
Janet promises a “carnival atmosphere” and her team is finishing off a model throne where children will pose for pictures in homemade crowns.
“It will be a special memory they will have for the rest of their lives.”
JONATHAN CHARLES WINE SHOP OWNER