Dean Hoffman wrote

It sounds like Britain is going to shut down for a few days.

Nope. no shutdown, just a fancy funeral and
lots wasting lots of flowers in various places.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/prince-philip-queen-elizabeth/2021/04/09/id/1016943/

Do I have it right that the current Queen was
a military mechanic near the end of WWII?

Not so much a military mechanic as a driver. They
were trained in how to fix what they were driving
if it broke down when they were driving it.

But she didnt drive full time like the other drivers
did and certainly didnt get stuck in the barracks
all the time when not driving either. And yes, she
did drive more than car, also medium sized trucks.