The Windsors At War

A look at the Royal Family’s long tradition of military service

- Ian Macewan

The close links between Britain’s monarchy and the military go back hundreds of years. And, as the new series, Royals on the Frontline reveals, three generations of the current Royal Family have upheld that tradition.

To set the scene, here’s a reminder of how the Queen, Prince Philip and their sons and grandsons have served…

QUEEN ELIZABETH

When Elizabeth turned 18 in 1944, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service as an ambulance driver. It was in her ATS uniform that she and her sister passed unnoticed among the crowds on VE Day. ‘The princesses went outside Buckingham Palace and shouted: “God save the King!”’ says historian Professor Kate Williams.

PRINCE PHILIP