Last Update: 10 September 2022
It’s likely a surprise to you but yes these are the images of Queen Elizabeth II training on a motorcycle. This Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (since 1952) is also Head of the Commonwealth and the queen of 12 countries today. The image above shows her riding either a BSA C10 250cc or Royal Enfield Model WD/D 250cc SV (can’t be confirmed) through a training course of fuel cans.
Known then as Princess Elizabeth, today’s Queen Elizabeth II was just 19 years old when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in February 1945. She trained as a driver and mechanic. Although she slept at home and not in barracks with her fellow recruits, she shared the camaraderie the ATS created with the women who attended. Princes Elizabeth reached the rank of Junior Commander.
More About The ATS
The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was the women’s branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women’s voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC). The WRAC was the corps to which all women in the British Army belonged from 1949 to 1992, except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains (who belonged to the same corps as the men).
The ATS had its roots in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), which was formed in 1917 as a voluntary service. During the First World War its members served in a number of jobs including clerks, cooks, telephonists and waitresses. The WAAC was disbanded after four years in 1921. *source Wikipedia
First Queen to Operate a Motorcycle
She not only became the first female member of the Royal Family to be a full-time active member of the services but also the first Princess and now Queen to operate a motorcycle. During her military training scheme ATS (Auxiliary Training Service) she was accompanied by Mary Churchill, Winston Churchill’s youngest daughter who was also a member of the ATS.
Alongside learning how to operate and ride a motorcycle, the women of the ATS learned vehicle maintenance. These ladies mastered such tasks as how to change truck tires, adjust spark plugs, and more.
The moto photo of Queen Elizabeth II by journalist and motorcycle enthusiast Prosper Keating perfectly captures not only her poise but focus. Keating heard of Elizabeth’s motorcycling skills and managed to source the photos. He supplied the negatives to the Queen, who wrote back in her own hand, that she was grateful for the fact that she could show these to her grandchildren.
Today, her grandsons Prince William and brother Prince Harry both ride motorcycles and have been enthusiasts for years.
5 comments
The picture of the Queen riding a motorcycle hangs in the cafe at Amersham Hospital.
It is one great photo but how many people recognise it as the late Queen.
The people serving did not.
Great!
As a 29+ years and currently serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and a motorcycle enthusiast myself, this picture of our head of state, Her Majesty the Queen riding a motorcycle is a treasure find for me. Thank you for posting these rare and awesome pictures of our Queen…
Proud to be one of Her soldiers.
God Save the Queen…
Apparently, it isn’t a BSA C10. It’s a Royal Enfield Model WD/D 250cc SV
Ohoh, thanks for sharing that. Difficult to get the facts in a time where documentation and photos were limited.