The Royal family have been associated with poise and calm even in the midst of chaos.
The past weeks have been lived with fear and dread of the deadly strain of the corona virus, covid-19 and even though royal engagements have been cancelled or postponed, the Queen will still go on with business as usual in a more confined and private ways from henceforth with more caution and application of safety tips in place by palace officials.
We can therefore look back at how the family survived the word war outbreak as the viral outbreak brings resemblance to 1939.
Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old when World war II broke out in September 1939 it was suggested that she and her younger sister Princess Margaret be evacuated to Canada for their safety.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother refused as she declared that: “The children won’t go without me. I won’t leave without the King. And the King will never leave.” Instead, the Princesses moved to Windsor Castle in 1940, where they spent most of the war years, entertaining staff by putting on pantomimes. This led to Princess Elizabeth’s first radio broadcast during the BBC’s Children’s Hour where she sent her best wishes to children who had been evacuated from Britain to America, Canada and elsewhere.
She said: “We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.
The King and Queen escaped a near death experience as they officially stayed at Buckingham Palace in London during the war when the palace was bombed in 1940 during the Blitz. The regularly visited badly damaged areas throughout the country after the air raids, as well as hospitals and factories, and met troops.
In 1945, Princess Elizabeth became the first female member of the royal family to join the Armed Services as a full-time member, at the age of 19. During her time in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) she learnt to drive and to maintain vehicles and at the end of the war on VE Day, Elizabeth and Margaret secretly mingled with the crowds on the streets of London to celebrate.
We hope her words will be the current reality when the cure for the corona virus is found just like when the World War II ended.
“We cheered the King and Queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the streets. I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief.” She said during an interview with Radio 4 in 1985.