When World War II had begun, Elizabeth went against her father's wishes and enlisted in the army. She was made a Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service and completed her course at number one in the training center of ATS while passing out as a fully qualified driver. After WWII, Elizabeth's public speaking grew in number and frequency. During her first official visit overseas in South Africa in 1947, she celebrated her 21st birthday at which time she made an international radio address pronouncing: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service." She has, since that date, still kept her promise and lives and works for the people. ("Her Majesty the Queen" 1-8).
In November of 1927, Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, now the Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. Both were distant cousins yet that is something we need not get into. They had four children each named respectively Charles (the Prince of Wales), Anne (the Princess Royal), Andrew (the Duke of York), and Edward (the Earl of Wessex). Elizabeth II was a very loving and affectionate mother. For instance, she was conscious of the impact and significance of WWII, and was convinced that her children needed to be modern Princes and Princesses, and resolved that they, like her, would not be shielded or spoiled, and that they would attend public school. She treated her family and friends very affectionately and loved to hold festivities for them all. Dinner banquets were a common thing for the Queen and she was known as the host of all hosts. She would entertain some 48,000 people from all sections of the community (including visitors from overseas) at Royal Garden Parties and other occasions. No guest would leave the palace without a smile on his or her face. Yet, before fun came extreme amounts of work. Elizabeth and her newlywed husband first toured Canada in 1951 and would stop at nothing to continue the tour of the countries of our great earth.
