Empire Day, 1946: Speech by HRH Princess Elizabeth

Aged just 20, Princess Elizabeth addresses the youth of the Commonwealth and the British Empire on Empire Day, 1946. Coming after the end of World War II, the speech commends the common ideals of 'freedom, justice and humanity' that can be found in every corner of the Empire. The princess uses the occasion to announce her intention to spend some of the next 12 months visiting parts of the Commonwealth that she has not been to before.

The picture above shows HRH Princess Elizabeth launching the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in 1946.

Empire Day celebrations took place at the Royal Albert Hall in 1944, 1945 and 1946 and were broadcast by the BBC as an acknowledgement of the war effort by all the Commonwealth countries.