The Aftermath of Ian Ball’s Attempt to Kidnap Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s Only Daughter, in 1976

On March 20, 1974, an armed, lone gunman named Ian Ball attempted to kidnap Britain’s Princess Anne along The Mall near Buckingham Palace. The 23-year-old Princess Royal famously thwarted the abduction with her calm composure and the now-legendary response: “Not bloody likely!”

Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were returning from a charity film screening in a chauffeur-driven limousine. Ian Ball swerved his Ford Escort in front of their car, forcing it to stop. He immediately jumped out brandishing two pistols.

The windows of Anne’s Vanden Plas Princess were blown out during the gun fight between her bodyguard and her would-be kidnapper.

Ian Ball’s Ford Escort, and the royal car close behind, at the scene of the attempted kidnap.

Police search for evidence in flower beds by the Mall after the attempt to kidnap Princess Anne.

Police found handcuffs and tranquilisers in Ian Ball’s possession.

Ball intended to hold Princess Anne for a ransom of £2 million to £3 million. When he stormed the royal vehicle, several individuals courageously intervened, resulting in four people being shot and wounded: Inspector James Beaton, her personal police protection officer, who was shot three times trying to shield her; Alex Callender, the Princess’s chauffeur; Brian McConnell, a journalist who tried to intervene; Michael Hills, a police constable who approached the scene.

Ball tore open the limousine door and commanded Princess Anne to get out. Standing her ground, she absolutely refused to budge. While Ball tried to drag her out by her arm, she engaged him in a brief, calm argument to stall for time, eventually dodging backward out of the car when he pulled at her. A passerby and former heavyweight boxer, Ronald Russell, charged at Ball and struck him in the head. Russell then helped shield the Princess while police reinforcements arrived to tackle and arrest Ball.

Queen Elizabeth II later highly decorated the brave citizens and officers involved, awarding Inspector Beaton the George Cross. Ian Ball pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping, and was subsequently sentenced to life in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

Princess Anne chats to Brian McConnell, a journalist from The Sun newspaper, who was shot in the stomach by her would-be kidnapper.

Princess Anne talks to PC Michael Hills, who was injured during Ian Ball’s attempt to kidnap Princess Anne in Pall Mall.

An informal moment in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, where the Queen, watched by Princess Anne (r), thanked the seven heroes who went to the assistance of Princess Anne.

In September 1974, Queen Elizabeth gave bravery awards to all the men who tried to intevene to save Anne’s life.

The attack exposed vulnerabilities: only one protection officer had been assigned, with no backup vehicle, and Beaton’s sidearm jammed. Protection was increased immediately (Anne was soon seen with two officers). Bodyguards’ weapons were changed (Walthers phased out). The episode contributed to a broader shift toward team-based, more robust royalty protection (SO14/Royalty Protection Branch), though exact operational details remain limited. Later incidents (such as the 1982 palace intruder) prompted further reviews and reorganization.

Princess Anne continued her public duties and equestrian career without major personal withdrawal. The event reinforced her public image of composure and resilience. Ball’s later claims of a staged “hoax” have been treated skeptically in contemporary reporting given the live ammunition that wounded four people and his contemporaneous guilty plea and stated motives.