‘Princess Auto Mechanic!’ All About Queen Elizabeth’s Military Service That Broke Royal Tradition
Queen Elizabeth became a skilled mechanic in WWII—defying expectations—and it changed her forever
Though the British Crown has a long-standing connection to the Armed Forces, one member of the Royal Family certainly stands out: Queen Elizabeth II. Not only was she loved and respected by many during her time as the longest-reigning monarch in British history, she also surprised the public by breaking tradition during World War II. Keep reading to learn more about Queen Elizabeth’s military career and how she stayed connected to the Armed Forces after the war ended.
Queen Elizabeth’s surprising role in the British Army
After turning 18 in 1945, Princess Elizabeth insisted on joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). This branch of the British army was formed in 1938 to allow women to serve vital roles during World War II. (It was disbanded in 1949 when the troops transferred to the newly formed Women’s Royal Army Corps.)
At the time, her father, King George VI, was very resistant. An article published in Life magazine claimed that “he believed that ‘her 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.”.
Despite the rumored reluctance, she was eventually granted permission to join. However, the plan was for her to be treated like any other member of the ATS. Her father ensured Elizabeth received no special ranking, so she started her military career as a Second Subaltern, the rank below the captain, a.k.a. second lieutenant.
What Queen Elizabeth learned as a mechanic during WWII
According to the National WW II Museum, Elizabeth started training to become a mechanic in March 1945. The role required a driving and vehicle maintenance course, and it didn’t take long for her to succeed in the job. On April 14, she qualified and received the nickname “Princess Auto Mechanic” from the press.
During this time, Elizabeth spent the majority of her time at the Mechanical Transport Training Section in Camberley, Surrey. Since it was so close to Windsor Castle, she was able to return home each evening for bed.
The proximity also made it possible for her family to visit. Life reported that the King, Queen and Elizabeth’s sister Princess Margaret came to the facility at one point to catch a glimpse of her training in vehicle maintenance.
Though not much more is known about her duties as a mechanic, Elizabeth flourished in the role. By the end of the war, she had been promoted to the rank of Junior Commander, which is equivalent to captain.
The night Queen Elizabeth never forgot
On May 8, 1945, the war in Europe ended on what would later be known as VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). When the King and Queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to acknowledge the crowds celebrating in the streets below, Elizabeth proudly stood next to her mother in her ATS uniform.
Later that night (still in uniform), she and Margaret were allowed to secretly join in the crowds for even more celebrating. Trying to go unnoticed, however, proved to be quite the challenge at first! (Fans of The Crown on Netflix may remember this scene.)
“I remember we were terrified of being recognized so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes,” recalled Queen Elizabeth in an interview with BBC in 1985.
She later described the experience as being one of the most memorable nights of her life.
Queen Elizabeth’s later connection to the military
After she ascended to the throne in 1952 and became Elizabeth II, the Queen took on a new role as Head of the Armed Forces. She was also considered Colonel-in-Chief of 16 British Army regiments and corps. Though purely ceremonial, she spent her years as Queen meeting with members of the British military and touring bases. (Three of her children, however, did serve in the armed forces when they were of age).
In 2009, Elizabeth further showed her support of the military when she instituted the Elizabeth Cross. This medal is granted to “the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations or as a result of terrorism as a mark of national recognition for their loss.” Despite being a newer award, it’s available to all those who died in conflicts as far back as 1948.
While Elizabeth’s time as an active duty member may have been short-lived, her skills carried her through the rest of her life. Even in her 90’s, she had reportedly been known to diagnose and repair faulty vehicle engines.
Though she died in 2022, the Queen’s legacy as the first woman of the Royal Family to serve on active duty during wartime will certainly continue to live on.
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