Queen Elizabeth II’s Thrilling VE Day Adventure
Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, celebrated the Nazi surrender and the end of World War II in Europe. As a teenage princess, Queen Elizabeth II slipped out of Buckingham Palace incognito alongside her sister Princess Margaret to join the ecstatic crowds. This rare escapade stands out as one of the most memorable nights of her life, offering a brief taste of anonymity amid the national jubilation.
King George VI permitted his daughters to immerse themselves in the festivities, noting in his diary: “Poor darlings, they have never had any fun yet.” Four decades later, Elizabeth II described the thrill and relief of the moment after six years of wartime hardship.
Wartime Life Before VE Day
Princess Elizabeth turned 13 when World War II erupted in 1939. Confined largely to Windsor Castle, she grew into her role as heir to the throne. In October 1940, during the Blitz, she delivered her first radio address to children evacuated overseas, stating: “We children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage. 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.”
The royal family’s choice to remain in Britain bolstered public morale. From Windsor Castle, 22 miles from London, the sisters witnessed the fiery skies of air raids. Princess Margaret later recalled a bomb landing nearby in their shelter: “We all went pink when we heard it.”
Elizabeth turned 18 in 1944, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service as Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor. She trained as an Army driver and mechanic, skills that proved handy for her VE Day disguise.
VE Day Festivities Erupt
Nazi Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945, followed six years of conflict that claimed around 450,000 British lives, including 67,000 civilians. Crowds flooded Whitehall, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace by 9:00 a.m. Church bells rang, and street parties lit up Britain.
At 3:00 p.m., Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the victory, cautioning: “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead.” King George VI broadcast thanks from the palace, reminding listeners of the ongoing fight against Japan.
Throngs in vibrant red, white, and blue packed the palace grounds. The royals appeared on the balcony multiple times at the crowd’s urging, joined once by Churchill. Hats flew, flags waved, and cheers echoed from hundreds of thousands.
The Princesses’ Daring Escape
From the balcony, viewed six times that evening, Elizabeth and Margaret yearned to join the fun below. With floodlights illuminating the palace after years of blackouts, they sought permission from their parents. Elizabeth pulled her ATS cap low over her eyes for cover, though a Grenadier officer insisted she wear it properly.
Princess Margaret, aged 14, marveled at the lights sparkling on their mother’s tiara and white dress amid the roaring crowd. The sisters ventured into Whitehall, swept along by strangers linking arms in waves of happiness.
Their group of about 16 included cousin John Elphinstone, recently freed after 4.5 years as a POW, who savored walking freely. Elizabeth recalled a hat swap with a Dutch sailor, who trailed them to reclaim it.
Cousin Margaret Rhodes described it as a “unique burst of personal freedom; a Cinderella moment in reverse,” where the princesses blended as ordinary revelers. They danced the conga, Lambeth Walk, and Hokey-Cokey amid laughing, kissing strangers.
Lady-in-waiting Jean Woodroffe remembered sneaking through the Ritz Hotel in a conga line: entering one door and exiting another, unnoticed in the chaos.
Returning via Green Park, they shouted for the King and Queen, timing their reappearance perfectly after sending a message ahead.
Diary Entries and Repeat Escapes
Elizabeth’s diary from May 9 reads: “Out in crowd again – Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, walked simply miles. Saw parents on balcony at 12.30 a.m. – ate, partied, bed 3 a.m.!”
Similar outings marked VJ Day in August. One entry notes: “Out in crowd, Whitehall, Mall… ran through Ritz. Walked miles, drank in Dorchester, saw parents twice.” The next day: “Out in crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly… Congered into house. Sang till 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!”
Princess Margaret noted they honed the skill across VE and VJ nights. These remain among her only known anonymous public strolls.
Reflection in 2020
In a 2020 address marking VE Day’s 75th anniversary amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the 94-year-old queen evoked the profound joy of those crowds. “Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead, we remember from our homes and from our doorsteps.” Her wartime cap rested on the table beside her father’s portrait.
