ARMED soldiers are guarding all the British royal family's residences after Scotland Yard increased security amid fears that the IRA is planning a spectacular" attack in Britain.
Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are included in the new high security arrangements with patrolling the grounds armed with SA8O machineguns, and armed police officers wearing bulletproof vests replacing the ceremonial guard outside the palaces.
All the members of the royal family are under 24 hour armed protection and have been instructed to vary their daily routines.
For the first time in two years an armed police officer escorted the Princess of Wales to her health club in central London yesterday. She had repeatedly refused a bodyguard after her separation from Prince Charles.
Anti terrorism officers ordered the new security arrangements following the discovery of documents under the floorboards at the London home of the IRA member, Edward O'Brien. He died in the Aldwych bus attack when the bomb he was carrying accidentally exploded.
It is understood that the documents included drawings and maps of the internal and external security measures of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James's Palace, the home of the Prince of Wales.
This has prompted fears that the IRA is planning the "ultimate spectacular", an attack on the royal family.
Anti terrorism officers are particularly concerned that one drawing relating to Windsor Castle depicted security arrangements which had only recently been installed.
Maps and drawings of the area surrounding the family home of the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, in Huntington were also discovered in Mr O'Brien's home, which security sources believe indicate that the IRA may resort to using mortar bombs fired from vehicles.
This tactic was successfully deployed in attacks on Heathrow Airport and at No 10 Downing Street.
Extra police are patrolling the Huntington area and are checking vehicles parked within a two mile radius of Mr Major's home.