Elizabeth II and the World War II
Pracovali na tom Vláďa a Kuba.
When she was 14 years old, then-Princess Elizabeth gave a speech to BBC’s Children’s Hour to displaced children who evacuated from their U.K. homes due to bombing in the war. Later, footage of Elizabeth gathering produce from her garden to combat food shortages was also released.
It was just the beginning of her service during World War II. What was Queen Elizabeth's job in WWII? Read on to hear all about her official job during the second (and hopefully the last!) World War.
During the World War II, queen Elisabeth was very active and brave.
On September 13, 1940, shortly after the start of Germany’s bombing campaign on the towns and cities of Britain, five high explosive bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace. The Royal Chapel, inner quadrangle and Palace gates were hit, and several workmen were injured. Rather than flee the city under attack, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth, remained at Buckingham Palace in solidarity with those living through the Blitz. This was a highly symbolic decision and received much attention in the press.
At the age of 19, Queen Elizabeth the II (then Princess Elizabeth) became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the military. Elizabeth (13 when WWII first started) was determined to help the war efforts in any way that she could. Seventy-six years on, Elizabeth is the last living head of state that lived through the conflict. Here are some surprising ways that the teenaged princess actively served her country during the Second World War.
Bombing and broadcasting
On the 8th of September, 1940, the Luftwaffe dropped a 50-kilogram bomb landed on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Placed in central London, the Palace had been a suspected target for the Luftwaffe’s campaign for some time, but just five days later, five bombs shook the castle. The King and Queen, drinking tea at the time, were unharmed by the blast, but the event would go on to bolster the community spirit and raise the morale of those who couldn’t flee the capital to the countryside.
Following the near-miss, the Royal Family was advised to flee the country and seek safety somewhere further removed from the ongoing conflict. The Queen, however, refused to leave her husband’s side and insisted that the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret remain with their family. The family remained in the UK, moving between palaces, throughout the duration of the war.
One month later, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret would give their first royal address as part of the BBC’s Children’s hour. Addressing the children of the commonwealth and evacuees, the princesses spoke about the importance of the support of the troops fighting overseas and doing whatever possible to ensure that they had the best chance of a safe return.
The refusal of the royal family to back down in the face of the German bombardment would bolster the public’s support and view of the Royal Family - something that would prove useful as the full effects of the war began to bite.
Queen Elisabeth´s speech. 1940