When World War II erupted on September 3, 1939, Princess Elizabeth was a young girl of just 13 years old. Like countless children residing in London, she and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, were promptly evacuated from their home to escape the escalating dangers of aerial bombing raids. Windsor Castle, situated approximately 20 miles outside of the bustling capital, became their refuge. These young princesses were among the millions of individuals, predominantly children, who were relocated from urban centers to the perceived safety of smaller towns and rural areas throughout the war. The British government’s Children’s Overseas Reception Board also orchestrated the evacuation of over 2,600 children to countries as far-reaching as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States.
In a pivotal moment on October 13, 1940, amidst this vast displacement, Princess Elizabeth, still a young teenager, delivered her inaugural public address from Windsor Castle’s drawing room. This broadcast was part of the BBC’s Children’s Hour, a program designed to uplift public morale during the challenging times of war. Speaking directly to the children who had been separated from their families due to the evacuation measures, the young princess articulated a message of empathy and solidarity.
“Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you, as we know from experience what it means to be away from those you love most of all,” she stated with heartfelt sincerity. “To you living in new surroundings, we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country.”
Public reaction to Princess Elizabeth’s radio broadcast was diverse, reflecting the complexities of wartime sentiment. Researchers from Mass Observation, a social research project, conducted interviews on the streets to gauge public opinion. Out of 57 individuals surveyed, 38 had tuned into the broadcast. A significant number, over 20 respondents, lauded Princess Elizabeth’s voice as “charming,” “sweet,” “beautiful,” or “lovely,” also noting her clear and articulate delivery, describing her performance as “wonderful” and “very well done.” However, a prevailing sentiment among listeners was the assumption that the speech had been pre-written for her, with some suggesting it was “propaganda” or a tactic to “keep the population quiet.” Despite these interpretations, numerous newspapers offered positive coverage of the speech, prominently featuring photographs of the two young princesses at the microphone, underscoring the symbolic importance of the royal family during the war.
As the war progressed and Princess Elizabeth grew into her teenage years, she embraced a more active role in supporting wartime resilience and morale. By 1943, at the age of 17, she was publicly photographed tending to her allotments at Windsor Castle. This was part of the government’s “Dig for Victory” campaign, a national initiative urging citizens to cultivate gardens and utilize every available piece of land to grow vegetables, thereby mitigating food shortages caused by wartime disruptions to imports. Prior to World War II, Britain heavily relied on food imports from across the globe. However, the onset of war and the threat of enemy submarines and warships severely hampered shipping lanes, leading to significant food shortages and the implementation of rationing for essential food items like meat, butter, cheese, eggs, and sugar. Princess Elizabeth’s participation in “Dig for Victory” highlighted the importance of national unity and self-sufficiency during wartime.
Upon reaching her sixteenth birthday, Princess Elizabeth undertook her first formal military duty, inspecting a military regiment during a parade at Windsor Castle. This marked her appointment as honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, a symbolic gesture acknowledging her growing involvement in the war effort and her connection to the armed forces. Turning 18 in 1944, Princess Elizabeth demonstrated her unwavering commitment to national service by insisting on joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army. For several years of the war, Britain had conscripted women to contribute to the war effort, mandating that unmarried women under 30 join the armed forces, work in agriculture, or engage in industrial roles. King George VI, her father, ensured that his daughter would not receive preferential treatment within the Army, emphasizing her desire to serve alongside her fellow citizens. She began as a second subaltern in the ATS and was subsequently promoted to Junior Commander, holding the equivalent rank of Captain, showcasing her dedication and competence in service.
Princess Elizabeth, then 19 years old, commenced her training as a mechanic in March 1945. She enrolled in a driving and vehicle maintenance course at Aldershot, successfully qualifying on April 14. Newspapers of the era affectionately nicknamed her “Princess Auto Mechanic,” celebrating her hands-on contribution to the war effort. The ATS offered a wide array of roles for women, ranging from cooks and telephonists to drivers, postal workers, searchlight operators, and ammunition inspectors. Some women even served in anti-aircraft units, although they were not permitted to operate the guns directly. These roles were not without peril, and throughout the war, 335 ATS women tragically lost their lives, with many more sustaining injuries. By June 1945, the ATS had grown to approximately 200,000 members from across the British Empire, serving both on the home front and in various overseas theaters of war.
Although Princess Elizabeth spent most days at the training facility, its proximity to Windsor Castle allowed her to return home each evening, rather than residing at the camp with her ATS peers. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret visited Princess Elizabeth at the Mechanical Transport Training Section in Camberley, Surrey, observing her training in engine maintenance. Recounting the visit to LIFE Magazine, the Princess humorously remarked, “I never knew there was quite so much advance preparation [for a royal visit] …I’ll know another time,” offering a glimpse into her down-to-earth personality amidst her royal duties and wartime service.
