Princess Elizabeth Shooting Lee Enfields

[Peter Laidler]

Has anyone else noticed the almost total lack of interest in this thread from the UK contingent...........

[muffett.2008]

They are probably all having fits(shock/horror) at the irreverant way we are discussing 'er over there.

[Richard Hare]

Muffet,

I'm an "over there" ....now living "over here" :-) and think maybe it is no surprise "over there" to see the Princess or later Queen, firing various guns. She was quite a shot with a sporting rifle and gun.
In other words, no big deal.
There are apparently more photos abroad though, of her Mum firing different arms. She also was quite the shot!

[Peter Laidler]

I'm not sure how we arrive at the notion that she or any of her family was 'quite a shot........' by any stretch of the imagination. Whatever 'quite a shot' means of course. Princess Ann on the other hand was quite a rider and as such made it into the UK national Olympic team. Maybe a forumer can remind me/us where the family shooters excelled...........

[Richard Hare]

Peter,
Going back to when I still lived in the UK, (30-odd years ago) Photos turned up in the Shooting Times on occasion, showing the Queen out taking part in a days pheasant shooting. At the time, the comments were made that she was much better than an 'average ' shot.
Of course, she would likely be taught by Percy Stanbury, from the West London Shooting grounds.
Given the shotgun would be made to measure, and as no better teacher ever existed than Percy, can you tell me why she Shouldn't have been a good shot???? The Lady never was simple or lacked motor skills.......... Very good dog handler as well at Field Trials.

[Seaspriter]

I'm sure the Royal Princess as Markswoman must have been a tradition passed from Queen to Princess as a result of the rogue kings and noblemen who lacked in character and trustworthiness. Recall the olde toast: "May the sun never set on the English Empire!!!! -- no one can trust an English noblemen in the dark!" Hence the ladies of the court armed themselves, and the tradition lives on, while the root cause may not be so sinister any more.

[bigduke6]

Here's one of Liz, Margaret and Mom in 1946, I think Louie Mountbatten was bound for Malaya or there abouts then, so the Boss and family were probably touring to.Attachment 64109

Is that from from the personal collection Muffer ? just looking at the AB (1st one leaning on the rail) reminds me of one of the lads I,ve sailed with who did his 22 years in the mob and left the mob the same rank..... never promoted, but served a long time on the Royal Yacht, sound bloke but had more promotion in the MN....

[Richard Hare]

I'm not sure how we arrive at the notion that she or any of her family was 'quite a shot........' by any stretch of the imagination. Whatever 'quite a shot' means of course. Princess Ann on the other hand was quite a rider and as such made it into the UK national Olympic team. Maybe a forumer can remind me/us where the family shooters excelled...........

Actually Peter, The Queen's Grandfather King Edward, was one of the ten best shots in England. Along with Lord Walsingham, Lord Ripon, and the Maharajah Duleep Singh. (Yes, he had an estate in England!!)
Her Father was also one of the Very best shots in England in his day as well.
I am surprised that these facts escaped you until now!

[Richard Hare]

Sorry, got me facts wrong in the above.
That's what comes of rushing And using my memory!

King Edward was of course the Queen's Great Grandfather. Excellent game shot. it was her G-father King George who was one of the Four best shots in England, not one of the ten best.... Please pardon the screw-up.
Richard.

[Bundook303]

Her Majesty may or may not have been a decent shot, but she wasn't above wringing the neck of a downed pheasant when necessary. My kind of Queen! Gawd bless 'er!