One of the events, which took place in spring 1939, vividly demonstrated Elizabeth's character and spiritual power. It was May 1938, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were making a monthly visit to the USA and Canada, where they were greeted by an exultant crowd of people with US President Franklin Delano Rusvelt. It was clear already that the war with Germany was already inevitable, and the help of the USA didn't seem to be guaranteed because of the public opinion of the Americans, who criticized the policy of "moderation" of the English Prime Minister Chemberlen towards Hitler, trying to keep isolation of their own country.
King George VI, always nervous and worried about his own state of
health, tried to find a reason to escape from hard duties of the official
programme of their visit. Elizabeth, on the contrary, was very serious,
overwhelming Americans with her refined manners.
She was always elegant in her clothes, as if she had just come out of
tailors, having a perfectly well done hairdo and without of any
signs of tiredness on her smiling face.
She didn't have a rest during her visit, always ready to greet people at
every station while her husband was having a rest.
Three months later the Royal family had to interrupt their summer holidays in the castle of Ballmorall, situated in Scotland, because on the 3rd of September 1939, the UK had to declare war to Germany, which had already seized Poland.
During the hard times of war for Great Britain the Queen was recomended to send Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret to America, but she answered: "My daughters will stay with me. I'll be with the King, and the King in any case will stay with the people of his country!" Both princesses were sent to Windsor castle, and the Queen and the King stayed in Buckingham Palace. They travelled about the country, visited hospitals, schools and factories, helping the victims of the war, which was becoming more and more cruel. For nine times Buckingham Palace was bombed during the war and after the first attack the queen commented on it so: "I'm glad, that I'm also bombed. Now I can look at the East End which had lost its roof without any obstacles".
In 1944 King George VI went to visit his troops to the liberated Europe, the Queen as a state advisor, took the place of the King, doing some of his duties.
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