The sixteen-year-old Princess was enrolled as a Sea Ranger on 26 February 1943 in SRS President III, having previously been a Girl Guide from the age of eleven. When Princess Margaret enrolled in 1945, the company's name was changed to SRS Duke of York. Senior Guides were, from 1920 onwards, known as Rangers, and a separate unit, the Sea Rangers, was established for those with strong naval interest. During the Second World War, the work of the Rangers contributed to the war effort. Princess Elizabeth was made a Sea Ranger Commodore in 1945.

This was taken in celebration of the Princess's 17th birthday, 21st April. Just prior to that the Wilding studios received their first official Royal Warrant on 1 January 1943.