Despite the rather favourable geographical location of Great Britain, the Second World War destroyed the lives of many people in this country. During the war, the need for unification and mutual assistance among the population became extremely urgent. Londoners managed to stay united even during the most massive shelling. What was the role of the Royal Family in those terrible times? After all, its representatives speak for the entire country. Therefore, their activities have always remained important for society. Where was the Royal Family located during World War II and what were their functions? Learn more at london-yes.
The first actions of the Royal Family
Although officially the King or Queen doesn’t have a significant influence on solving global issues in the country (because the head of government is the prime minister), representatives of the Royal Family have always remained the embodiment of ancient traditions and personified power. Their opinion was relevant in any period of history. Moreover, they were role models in many areas of life. Thus, the support of George VI was extremely important for the population of the country, and London in particular during the war. In his address to society on September 3, 1939, the King called on the people of his country to have courage, stability and endurance. Moreover, after five high-explosive bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace in September 1940, George VI and his wife decided not to leave London as a sign of solidarity with the residents of the city, who constantly suffered from such bombings. However, Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth were sent to Windsor Castle, where they stayed throughout the war. Even though the future Queen was still a teenager at that time, she wanted to support the country’s population. In 1940, she gave her first speech, which was dedicated to all the children who were forced to leave their homes and evacuate.
The role of Royal Visits
In peacetime, the King’s duties included various visits to important enterprises, educational institutions, hospitals and infrastructure facilities, as well as his presence at many events. After the beginning of the Second World War, the number of such duties increased significantly. However, there was another problem. Such visits usually involved extensive preparation on both sides. During the war, hospitals, businesses and military units in London simply didn’t have the time or resources to do this. Therefore, there was speculation in the city about how the presence of the King would affect certain activities. However, George VI’s visits usually had positive consequences for the functioning of the city and the country in general. Thus, an increase in labour efficiency was noticed in enterprises after the arrival of the King. He revived enthusiasm for work and awakened morale. However, there were some decreased indicators on the day of the visit itself.
Photo source: The National WWII Museum
In general, George VI and his wife visited destroyed objects and affected areas of London, as well as inspected the army and visited enterprises. The King held the titles of Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Therefore, he usually appeared in military uniform when visiting such places. Even Princess Elizabeth wanted to join the defence of the country at the end of the war. In 1944, at the age of 18, she insisted on joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In March 1945, the Princess began training as a mechanic and later completed a course in driving and vehicle maintenance. In general, she surprised everyone with her skills and desires, even after becoming Queen.