Public perceptions of the British Royal Family have often been shaped by questions about how connected its members are to the lives of ordinary people. While some contemporary royals have at times been viewed as removed from everyday experiences, the late Queen Elizabeth II developed a reputation for being relatable and accessible.
Throughout her reign, many people saw her as possessing a practical, grounded demeanor that helped bridge the gap between the monarchy and the public. This image contributed to a strong sense of connection between the Queen and those she served as head of state.
King George VI disapproved of her military service
Prince William may have attended a university open to those who’d earned the grades and Harry distinguished himself by serving in Afghanistan, but it’s Elizabeth II who many have seen themselves in. Back in 1942, when she turned 16, she registered under the Ministry of Labour’s Registration Scheme, hoping to be selected for war duties alongside thousands of other young British women.
Her father, King George VI, disapproved, and it wasn’t until two years later that she was able to get her way.
Elizabeth II joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)
Although King George VI believed the future queen’s attention should remain focused on her royal responsibilities and proper court etiquette, he was unable to prevent Elizabeth from taking a more active role in Britain’s wartime efforts. She enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and was appointed as an honorary second subaltern, a rank broadly comparable to a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
The ATS primarily carried out support roles, including transportation and other non-combat duties, but its members were still exposed to significant danger. That reality was underscored in 1942, when the organization suffered its first wartime fatality after an ATS member was killed during an air raid while serving at an anti-aircraft position.
Elizabeth II worked on vehicle maintenance
In March 1945, the then-princess began vehicle maintenance training, something that was once an unusual sight but became more and more common throughout the Second World War. As men went off to fight and children were evacuated to the countryside, women filled the gaps left behind in factories, garages, and on farms.
Elizabeth the Queen Mother was the official commandant in chief of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, so it was only natural for Elizabeth II to want to be part of things too, along with thousands of her contemporaries.
At the time, the press was delighted, with the public commenting that the uniforms worn by both women were the first war-like attire worn by a British Royal woman since the days of the legendary Queen Boudica.
Elizabeth got no special privileges
George VI decreed that Elizabeth II would receive no special privileges while serving with the ATS, although she did get to return home to Windsor Castle every night, rather than sleep at the camp with her fellow student mechanics. Within five months, she’d earned a promotion to honorary Junior Commander.
When her parents and sister, Princess Margaret, paid a visit to the Mechanical Transport Training Section at Camberley, Surrey, Elizabeth II was quoted by LIFE Magazine as saying, “I never knew there was quite so much advance preparation [for a royal visit], I’ll know another time.”
Elizabeth II drove and maintained Austin K2/Y ambulances
The then-princess passed a military driving test and learned how to read maps, change a tire, and how to dismantle and rebuild an engine. She drove and maintained Austin K2/Y ambulances and “Tilly” trucks, and was the first woman from the Royal Family to be employed as a full-time active member of the women’s service.
While she received the most attention, Elizabeth II wasn’t the only high-profile recruit to the service, as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s daughter, Mary, also served in the ATS throughout the duration of World War II.