The Prince of Wales visits GCHQ Scarborough 30th July 2014

 The Prince of Wales visits GCHQ Scarborough   30th July 2014 

  The Prince of Wales visits GCHQ Scarborough   30th July 2014

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/news-and-diary/the-prince-of-wales-visits-gchq-scarborough

The Prince of Wales emerges from a fortified bunker during a tour of GCHQ Scarborough in Scarborough.

The Prince of Wales tried his hand at the famous Enigma code-breaking machine when he visited the world's oldest existing intercept station, in North Yorkshire.

His Royal Highness, who is Patron of the Intelligence Services, was shown around GCHQ Scarborough to help celebrate its centenary year.

The base, which has more than 200 staff on site, was first established in Scarborough by the Royal Navy in 1914 as a wireless telegraphy station. It was then relocated to its current home at Irton Moor, North Yorkshire, in 1943.
The Prince saw the original bunker which was in operation until the 1970s as well as the station's museum which houses various listening and decoding devices. His Royal Highness was also able to type a message into an original Enigma machine, which he said was "fascinating".

An outstation of the main GCHQ site in Cheltenham, the site near Scarborough played a key role in tracking the famous German battleship the Bismarck.

During the tour The Prince of Wales asked questions about the equipment he was being shown and how it was used during the war. He was also able to meet members of staff at the base and was briefed on some current operational work that Scarborough does.

A WWII Enigma coding machine on display in the museum at GCHQ Scarborough during a visit by The Prince of Wales.

Making his first visit to the base, The Prince of Wales was shown round the site by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, as well as a retired GCHQ historian.

A GCHQ spokesman said: "It is a real pleasure for us to host a visit by his Royal Highness to our Scarborough site in this centenary year so that he can meet staff and see firsthand 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."

Arriving by helicopter for the two hour tour, His Royal Highness also met Conservative MP Robert Goodwill and the Mayor of Scarborough Councillor Pat Marsburg.

Having a particular interest in the Intelligence Services, The Prince has regularly presented The Prince of Wales Intelligence Community Awards to Members of the Secret Intelligence Service, Security Service and Government Communications Headquarters at St James's Palace.

Together with The Duchess of Cornwall, he also attended the Royal Premiere of the James Bond film Skyfall in 2012 and asked for the proceeds to be donated to charities supporting the Intelligence Services.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/news-and-diary/the-prince-of-wales-visits-gchq-scarborough