Royal Family hid the Crown Jewels inside a biscuit tin to protect them in the event of a Nazi invasion
PRICELESS gems from the Crown Jewels were buried in a biscuit tin in Windsor Castle during the Second World War to protect them from the Nazis.
George VI ordered the jewels to be hidden in the grounds of the castle and the secret was so closely guarded the Queen has only recently found out.
The bid to save them from the Nazis was revealed in a set of letters from a former royal librarian that feature in a BBC documentary.
The "eclectic set of letters" reveal how the gems were hidden in a Bath Oliver biscuit tin and buried in the grounds of Windsor Castle The Times reports.
During the works the excavations had to be covered at night with tarpaulins so when German aircraft flew over they wouldn’t know anything was going on.
Grass was then left to regrow to conceal the hiding place at one of the secure entries to the castle.
The Crown Jewels were then locked inside two chambers built with steel doors - with access only available through a trapdoor.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce discovered the incredible story and spoke with the Queen for the show about the Coronation to be broadcast this weekend.
He said: "They dug out this fresh, very virgin white chalk and they had to hide it with tarpaulins so when the aircraft flew over at night no clue was given to the German Luftwaffe that anything was going on."
The letters about the audacious plot were from Sir Owen Morshead, the royal librarian, to Queen Mary - the mother of George VI.
He described how the most precious jewels were removed from the Imperial State Crown — worn at the state opening of parliament — so they could be kept separately in case of emergency.
Sir Owen also popped out the Black Prince’s Ruby and St Edward’s Sapphire from their clasps and put them in the biscuit tin.
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Mr Bruce said: "What was so lovely was that the Queen had no knowledge of it. Telling her seemed strangely odd."
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