Britain's Prince Charles paid a secret visit to GCHQ Scarborough yesterday afternoon to celebrate its 100th birthday.
Prince Charles paid a secret visit to Scarborough yesterday afternoon (30.07.14).The 65-year-old royal flew via helicopter to the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) at Irton Moor, North Yorkshire, to celebrate the station's 100th birthday.
Charles was given a tour of the site, which helps law enforcement agencies prevent terrorism and organised crime, and shown the Second World War concrete bunker, which was in operation until the 1970s.
He was then shown the "extraordinary" on-site museum and given a demonstration of an original wartime German Enigma machine.
The prince - who is the oldest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip - then unveiled a plaque at the end of his trip to commemorate his visit.
A GCHQ spokesman told the Yorkshire Coast Radio: "It is a real pleasure for us to host a visit by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to our Scarborough site in this centenary year so that he can meet staff and see first-hand the vital work they do in keeping the country safe.
"The Prince has long been a strong supporter of the work of the intelligence agencies and his presence here today is a reminder of that."
The site, which normally operates under strict secrecy, is believed to be the oldest existing intercept station in the world.
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