Twitter users baffled by hidden codes on GCHQ centenary plaque

The hidden codes were contained within the centenary plaque
GCHQ
Megan White14 February 2019

Baffled Twitter users were left stumped after the Queen revealed a plaque commemorating the centenary of GCHQ containing two hidden codes.

Despite the spy agency giving out clues to deciphering the codes, many were still baffled by the secret messages.

The Queen unveiled the plaque on a tour of the intelligence agency’s first base, which was opened at Watergate House, near Charing Cross, a century ago.

The hidden messages were included as a tribute to the code-breakers who founded the agency and the abilities of those who work for it today.

Jeremy Fleming, Director GCHQ with Queen Elizabeth II after she unveiled a plaque during a visit to Watergate House in London to mark the centenary of GCHQ
PA

Guesses included the symbols underneath several letters spelling out "hundred years," or the four underlined letters spelling "dees".

Boffins also suggested that "secret" could be spelled out in morse code using the method of highlighting.

The correct answers will be revealed on the GCHQ Instagram account tomorrow.

Despite their best efforts, many Twitter users were unable to crack either of the codes, with some managing one.

Richard Lindsay said: “I only got one, I’d be a rubbish spy.”

Fred Nurk added: “No idea. Perhaps that's why, despite my sitting endlessly in Pret Vauxhall gazing out at Vauxhall Cross, I have never once been given a cryptic crossword to solve.”

While Megan Robertson joked: “If I reveal them someone will probably shoot me.”

The Royal Family also posted a puzzle on their Twitter account, with a scrambled cypher code of letters.

By working out that “100GS” was “100th”, brainy followers were able to crack the code and reveal that the message spelt “Hello GCHQ it was great to be part of your 100th celebrations thank you for having us.”

During her visit, the Queen also met Ruth Bourne, who worked as a bombe encryption device operator at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

She joined the team aged just 17, helping to break German codes from early 1944 to the end of the war the following year.

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