- Story discovered in declassified papers from Czech Cold War archives
The royal family’s determination to ‘do their bit’ helped galvanize the nation in the dark days of war.
Now newspapers have revealed how on one occasion Queen Mary and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret ended up in a ditch after an accident as they cycled home from church to save fuel during the wartime petrol shortage.
They waited there patiently as a frustrated King George struggled to reattach his bicycle chain, which kept falling off.
Details of the incident were told by the driver of a Czechoslovak statesman and friend of the royal family, who offered them a ride.
The Mail discovered the story in recently released papers from the archives of the Czech Cold War security service.
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret pose on bicycles in Windsor, England on April 4, 1942
Photos from April 1942 show the Princesses with their bicycles at Royal Lodge, Windsor
They also tell of teenage Princess Elizabeth’s fondness for “naughty” stories and of Lord Snowdon’s law-breaking motorcycle ride.
But the most bizarre story is that of the royal meeting with diplomat Jan Masaryk and his driver.
The files state: ‘Masaryk was a friend of the royal family. (The driver) remembers how in 1942, when there was a fuel shortage, he saw the royal family cycling to church.
‘When the service was over, they saw the queen and the two princesses sitting in a ditch. The king tried to repair the chain.
‘Masaryk offered them a lift, the bicycles were picked up by someone later.’
Photos from April 1942 show the Princesses with their bicycles at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
The driver recalled another time when he drove Mr. Masaryk, with Elizabeth in the back.
The file said: ‘Masaryk told their stories. Elizabeth loved it, and ‘the spicier’ the story was, the more she liked it.’
Surveillance files from 1967 on Princess Margaret’s then husband, Lord Snowdon, during a visit to Prague tell of a ride on a Czech-made Jawa motorcycle.
Queen Elizabeth rides through the grounds of Sandringham to inspect the harvest by horse and cart, while her daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, ride behind on bicycles with their father, King George VI, in August 1943
The Mail discovered the story in recently released papers from the archives of the Czech Cold War security service
Lord Snowdon’s bodyguard ‘had no choice but to jump on and ride behind. They have been stopped twice for traffic violations.’
But Lord Snowdon was praised as a “highly intelligent” man who had “brought the royal family to life” by the British ambassador’s wife, Margaret Barker, who cruelly contrasted him with King George, whom she called “a totally impossible man” . a stammer, unable to learn a single speech a year.
He only spoke on the radio while the Queen held his hand to give him courage, but even then he spoke gibberish.”
She also described Princess Margaret as “crazy” and “immoral.”
