Irish Republican terrorists had 'sensationally' plotted to kidnap Queen Victoria

Newly-released historical records have revealed that armed Irish Republican terrorists had plotted to kidnap Queen Victoria.

The "desperate and daring" Irish Republicans intended to snatch her while she wandered around her estate at Balmoral, the Mirror reported.

A former police officer said that the gang had planned to hold the Queen hostage in a shabby cottage until the government gave in to their demands to release Republicans from jails in Britain and Ireland.

After the warning of the plot, dozens of undercover detectives armed with revolvers and cutlasses were sent to Balmoral to protect Victoria.

Manchester's chief constable then wrote to Scotland Yard that the Republicans believe that Her Majesty goes about the country with very few attendants and he can credit the possibility of an attempt of such an audacious character being carried into execution.

But it seemed the plotters realized the police had understood their plan, and the security operation at the Queen's estate in Aberdeenshire was scaled down a few days later.