Her future path changed entirely when she became heir presumptive at the age of 10 with her uncle King Edward VIII gave up the crown and her father then ascended to the throne.
Unsurprisingly, by this time his eldest daughter and the heir presumptive to the throne, Elizabeth, who was only 23 years of age, was carrying out more and more royal duties by the end of the decade.
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person entitled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir apparent, male or female, or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question. The position is however subject to law and/or conventions that may alter who is entitled to be heir presumptive.