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Written by government officials, the hypothetical speech was part of a secret exercise designed to prepare Britain for the threat of a possible World War Three, but was never broadcast.

It starts by referring to the queen's traditional Christmas address to the nation.

"The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth," she was to have said.

"Now, this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds."

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Citing the close bond of family life as the greatest defence against the unknown, the speech also mentioned the queen's second son Prince Andrew, who was serving in the Royal Navy at the time.

"If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country's will to survive cannot be broken," she was to have said.

The papers were released by the National Archives as part of a 30-year rule that sees official records from the Prime Minister's office and Cabinet Office released to the public.

They also revealed how Margaret Thatcher, who was the prime minister at the time, dismissed the idea of hiring the then 21-year old William Hague - now Foreign Secretary - as an advisor to the Treasury.

"No," she wrote, underlining the word three times before adding "This is a gimmick and would be deeply resented by many who have financial economic experience." (Reporting by Li-mei Hoang, editing by Paul Casciato)

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