King George VI during a visit to the Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1945

Photograph, World War Two, Home Front (1939-1945), 1945.

King George VI observes his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, working on the engine of an Austin 10 'Tilly' light utility truck. Princess Margaret, in civilian dress, is second from right.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in February 1945 as a subaltern. By the end of the war she had reached the rank of junior commander, having completed her course at No 1 Mechanical Training Centre of the ATS, and passed out as a fully qualified driver.

From a collection of photographs relating to the Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1939-1949.