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Now Queen Elizabeth, then “Princess Elizabeth explains to the Queen what she had done to the car engine“, Second World War, By War Office official photographer Major Horton, 1945-04-09, H 41644, Imperial War Museums Collection

“In 1945, Life magazine published an article about Princess Elizabeth. It reported that King George VI had ruled, that “[Elizabeth’s] training as a princess outweighed the nation’s increasing manpower problems and that ‘Betts’ should not join any of the women’s auxiliaries, nor work in a factory”.

But the King would not get his way. In April 1944, the young Princess had turned 18. Her teenage years had been against the backdrop of the Second World War. Elizabeth was determined to ‘do her bit’ for the war effort, as so many of her peers were.

Within a year of turning 18, Elizabeth would sign up for service. It was an unprecedented decision – this would make her the first woman in the Royal Family to become a full-time member of the armed services. And it was a decision that would shape her life and reign. Newsreel: “Making rapid progress withe her training as an ATS Second Subaltern, Princess Elizabeth has now passed her tests as a fully trained motor driver and mechanic.”….” Read more here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/queens-platinum-jubilee-iwm-london


Auxiliary Territorial Service: Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS, wearing overalls and standing in front of an L-plated truck. In the background is a medical lorry. Second World War, Official photographer, TR 2835, Ministry of Information Second World War, Imperial War Museums Collection

“With thousands of men away serving in the armed forces, British women took on a variety of jobs during the Second World War. They also played a vital role on the home front, running households and fighting a daily battle of rationing, recycling, reusing, and cultivating food in allotments and gardens.

From 1941, women were called up for war work, in roles such as as mechanics, engineers, munitions workers, air raid wardens, bus and fire engine drivers. At first, only single women, aged 20-30 were called up, but by mid-1943, almost 90 per cent of single women and 80 per cent of married women were working in factories, on the land or in the armed forces.

There were over 640,000 women in the armed forces, including The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), plus many more who flew unarmed aircraft, drove ambulances, served as nurses and worked behind enemy lines in the European resistance in the Special Operations Executive.

The most notable member of the ATS during the Second World War was the then Princess Elizabeth. She trained as a driver and mechanic and reached the rank of Junior Commander. Winston Churchill’s youngest daughter, Mary Churchill (later Lady Soames) also served as a member of the ATS…” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-women-of-the-second-world-war


Link: https://youtu.be/GOhYrBQFSTQ


“HRH PRINCESS ELIZABETH IN THE AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE, APRIL 1945”
Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS standing in front of an ambulance, Second World War, Ministry of Information official photographer, TR 2832 Part of Ministry of Information Second World War Colour Transparency collection, Imperial War Museums

About the photos (non-commercial use allowed):
“Object description
Original wartime caption: Princess Elizabeth explains to the Queen what she had done to the car engine.
Physical description
Photographic negative
Object details
Category
Photographs
Related period
Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator
War Office official photographers (Photographer)
Major Horton (Undefined)
Production date
1945-04-09
Materials
whole: Nitrate
Catalogue number
H 41644
Part of
WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION”
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205512998

“Object description
Auxiliary Territorial Service: Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS, wearing overalls and standing in front of an L-plated truck. In the background is a medical lorry.
Object details
Category
Photographs
Related period
Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator
Official photographer
Materials
whole: acetate
Catalogue number
TR 2835
Part of
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION”
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205194945

“HRH PRINCESS ELIZABETH IN THE AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE, APRIL 1945
Object description
Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS standing in front of an ambulance.
Object details
Category
Photographs
Related period
Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator
Ministry of Information official photographer
Materials
whole: acetate
Catalogue number
TR 2832
Part of
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124047