Britain’s Royal Family—King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret—became known for their steadfastness during World War II. Even after five German bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace in September 1940, striking several areas of the palace, the Royal Family decided to stay in the capital. They wanted to show solidarity with the millions of Londoners living through the intensive bombing campaign known as the Blitz, which ultimately claimed the lives of over 40,000 civilians in cities across the United Kingdom.
Like hundreds of thousands of British children in urban areas, the princesses were sent to the relative safety of the countryside. While many children were evacuated to friends, relatives, and host families, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were sent to Windsor Castle, around 20 miles outside London. From the castle’s drawing room, 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth delivered her first radio address on October 13, 1940, speaking on the BBC program Children’s Hour to boost morale among the many evacuated children living apart from their parents.
Before she was old enough to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the women’s branch of the British Army), Princess Elizabeth continued to help the war effort by appearing in government campaigns, including the “Dig for Victory” initiative. She was photographed gardening at Windsor Castle, encouraging Britons to grow vegetables to combat food shortages and lessen the impact of rationing. She was also given the symbolic role of honorary colonel in the Grenadier Guards. She conducted her first ceremonial inspection of the regiment on the morning of her sixteenth birthday.
Though the King and Queen weren’t thrilled with the idea, they eventually relented, and Princess Elizabeth volunteered for the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in February 1945, joining the millions of other young women who volunteered for military service or worked in factories or on farms during the war. She was the first female British royal to become an active-duty armed forces member.
The princess completed a driving and vehicle maintenance course at the Aldershot military training camp, qualifying as “truck mechanic No. 230873” in April 1945. She also learned about engine maintenance at the Mechanical Transport Training Section in Surrey. Though she originally started as a second subaltern, she was later promoted to the rank of junior commander.
Princess Elizabeth’s wartime service came to an end later that year. Victory in Europe was declared in May 1945. Along with Princess Margaret, she slipped away from Buckingham Palace to celebrate with the crowds on V-E Day (May 8, 1945), which she later described as “one of the most memorable nights of my life.” Junior Commander Elizabeth Windsor, the future Queen Elizabeth II, remained in the ATS until after V-J Day in August 1945.
”Princess Auto Mechanic":
- Queen Elizabeth (later known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) reportedly said, “I am glad we have been bombed. Now we can look the East End in the eye” after Buckingham Palace was struck, referring to the devastating effects of the Blitz on working-class Londoners.
- During World War II, around 200,000 women joined the ATS in a range of roles, from cooks and drivers to ammunition inspectors and telephone operators. Over 300 were killed during the war.
- For many decades after the war, Queen Elizabeth II was frequently pictured behind the wheel of one of her many vehicles and reportedly enjoyed commenting on engine maintenance. She continued driving well into her 90s.