British S.A.S. men to guard Royal tour

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 6

British S.A.S. men to guard Royal tour

NZPA London Men of Britain's crack Special Air Service will act as undercover security officers for next year's Royal tour of Australia and New Zealand by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their son. Prince William. They will also advise Australian and New Zealand S.A.S. forces and police on security for the tour which starts in the Northern Territory on March 21. according to authoritative sources. The British S.A.S.. which made world headlines by ending the Iranian Embassy siege in London in May. 1980. acted as advisers during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Melbourne in October last year, the sources said. The force is regarded as vital to security for the tour because of its experience in

handling international terrorism. something which the Australian and New Zealand forces are yet to gain even though the British believe their southern counterparts are world-class. One of the prime security problems is believed to be the home-base for the Royal couple and Prince William. It is believed this will be the property of the Princess of Wales’s mother. Mrs Frances Shand Kydd, near Canberra, although nothing has been decided officially. The property is isolated and therefore vulnerable to security breaches. New' Zealand would welcome any British S.A.S. troops that might guard the Prince of Wales and his family in New Zealand, said the Minister- of Internal Affairs. Mr Highet. Earlier, the New Zealand Commissioner of Police. Mr

R. J. Walton, had said there would be no need to have British soldiers accompanying the Prince and his wife and infant child. Mr Highet said all overseas heads of State brought their own security guards with them on visits. It was over to the British to decide what security would accompany the tour, though discussions were held with the Prime Minister. Mr Muldoon. Mr Walton had dismissed the London report. "I would be surprised if the S.A.S. did come and I cannot see the need for it." he said. Security in New Zealand was the responsibility of the New Zealand Police and the Security Intelligence Service. Like Australia. New Zealand has its own S.A.S. force but the police have never sought assistance.