In 1939, when World War II started many advised the British royal family especially, the Queen and princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, then 13 and 9 years old respectively, to move to Canada.
The Queen refused and didn’t stop riding in Buckingham Palace regardless of the fact that it was bombed numerous times during the war. She, however, kept shuffling the princesses around several palaces before leaving them in Windsor Castle.
SEE ALSO: The Unforgettable Nat King Cole
Elizabeth turned 18 in February 1946, at this point, the war was still intense. Elizabeth was adamant about contributing personally to the war, the Royal Collection Trust reported.
The Princess who had already been presumed to be the heiress was then commissioned as an honorary second subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service; this basically was the equivalent of a second lieutenant and she began training in March of 1945.
Her father, the King, issued a royal decree that she was to be treated like every other person. He demanded that she wasn’t given a special rank or privilege. She eventually earned a promotion to junior commander. However, at that time, the Associated Press reported that Elizabeth was the first woman in the royal family to become “a full-time active member in the women’s service.”
While it wasn’t a combat role, serving in the ATS had its risks. In 1942, they had their first death when a woman was killed by a bomb. It’s also worth noting that Winston Churchill’s daughter, Mary, also served in the ATS.
SEE ALSO: Saga za Ab – Ethiopian Ambassador To 16th Century Portugal
