Princess Anne attempted kidnapping

[themessygarden]

I did not realise it was such a serious incident, just read a summary of it.

#OnThisDay in 1974 Princess Anne, with her then husband Mark Phillips, was subjected to a kidnapping attempt by Ian Ball. They were returning to Buckingham Palace from a charity event; their car was forced to stop on the Mall by a Ford Escort. The driver of the Ford, Ian Ball, jumped out and began firing a pistol. James Beaton, Anne’s only security, responded by exiting the car in order to shield her and to attempt to disarm Ball. However, Beaton’s firearm jammed, and he was shot by Ball. Ball turned to the rear door behind the driver’s seat and started shaking it. “Open, or I’ll shoot!” he yelled. As the princess and Phillips did their best to hold the door shut, Princess Anne’s lady-in-waiting crawled out of the door on the passenger side. Beaton took the opportunity to jump back in the limo. He placed himself between the couple and Ball, who shot into the car. Beaton’s hand deflected the bullet. Ball then shot him a third time, causing a wound that forced Beaton out of the car and onto the ground. Chauffeur Alexander Callendar stepped out to confront the gunman. Ball shot him in the chest and he fell back into the car.

Pulling the back door open, Ball grabbed Anne’s forearm as Mark held onto her waist. “Please, come out,” said Ball to Anne. “You’ve got to come.” As the two men struggled over Anne, her dress ripped, splitting down the back. Instead of panicking, she had what she later called “a very irritating conversation” with her potential kidnapper. Ball told Anne to get out of the car, to which she replied: “Not bloody likely!”, and reportedly briefly considered hitting Ball. Policeman Michael Hills was first on the scene. Patrolling nearby he assumed the conflict was over a car accident. He approached Ball and touched his shoulder. The gunman turned and shot Hills in the stomach. Before collapsing, Hills was able to radio his station. Brian McConnell, a journalist, also intervened and was shot in the chest. Other two civilian Ronald Russell and Glenmore Martin intervened. The wounded were hospitalised and recovered. All the men that intervened were awarded afterwards by The Queen.

Ball pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping.

there is a fantastic episode on Michael Parkinson when she talks about it,
enlightening

Yes, such dangers are about for many well known people. Hence, they have security. Thank goodness all injured heros of the day recovered.

Its important things like this don't get forgotten! The problem is you have to be 60ish+ to have seen this one the news....

Imagine saying ‘Not bloody likely’ to a would be kidnapper pointing a gun at you. In an alternative life Anne could have been an amazing policewoman. Why the heck to The Crown overdramatise more mundane events and not include gold like this?

She has more back bone than the rest of her family put together!

@Crumpetdisappointment I just came to say the same thing about Parkinson - it's a great episode.

Harold Wilson was PM at the time & had access to the documents. IIRC they were protected under the 30 Year Rule & he said in his diaries that he wished the full story could have come out at the time, so people could see what a tough woman she was, particularly as she wasn't getting the best press in that period.

The security guard that kept trying despite being shot sounds amazing.

There was a documentary about probably after the documents were unsealed its very good, wish I could remember the name of it now, she is a legend !

Ronnie Russell had his mortgage paid off by HM as a thank you

www.itv.com/news/2020-02-06/man-who-saved-anne-had-mortgage-paid-off-by-queen

quite bizarre that The Crown didnt cover it i agree

Love Princess Anne! I vaguely remember it being in the news, but didn’t actually read it - I was very young. But people were talking about how down to earth Anne was. Does make you wonder how some of the younger Royals (eg H and M) would react nowadays if similar happened. No doubt there would be a book very shortly afterwards…..

I didn't realise those poor men were shot. I'll find the Parkinson interview.

I'm sure I read that Catherine went though anti terrorist training once engaged. That threat would be more than enough to keep me at the gym every day.

If I remember correctly there is a brief mention in Mark Phillips biography but no mention in Princess Anne's.

All very brave, not just Anne, the security, the driver, the lady in waiting and the police officer, even Mark.

Bonkers that the Crown didn't cover this!

Saw him on the telly a few years back. It looks like the queen did pay his mortgage, but it doesn't look like they kept in touch with him after saving a life. Now he's fallen on bad times.

It seems like someone who saves your life like that would be a bff, tbh. I mean there are people who are getting titles and connections for less than that.

I’m too young to remember this at the time. I knew there’d been an incident and I’d heard the ‘Not bloody likely’ quote, but the versions I’d heard were all centred entirely around Anne repelling the attempted kidnapping herself entirely through her own actions. No mention that shots were fired, or that people were injured protecting her.

Yes, over the years I have heard about the kidnapping attempt, but never knew several people were shot at and injured.

I agree, absolutely bizarre that The Crown ignored it.

The guy who saved her received the George Cross which he then sold years later, and his house was bought for him im sure the RF were very grateful but "Bffs" would be a bit of a stretch.

I knew about this and that several men had received medals as a result of their bravery.

I thought it was extremely odd The Crown didn’t cover it until I realised it was probably because of copycat concerns.

Why the heck to The Crown overdramatise more mundane events and not include gold like this?

Of course they don’t as it shows a member of the Royal family in a good light.

Yep, I realised I was handing the usual suspects a stick to beat the royals the minute I pressed 'post.' 🙄

About 15 years ago when I was working at a solicitors, my manager received a handwritten letter from Ian Ball. He was looking for a solicitor to represent him. It was quite long but to summarise, he wanted to argue that ultimately all of the judges answered to the Queen so any judgment against him would be biased and should be considered unlawful.

It wasn't a big city firm and my manager wasn't exactly a famous solicitor so god only knows how many of those letter he wrote. Still, it made for an interesting read. A madman who was desperately trying to appear reasonable and eloquent.

I saw the documentary a few years ago. Hair raising !

Mark Phillips just sat there......

Good job some passers by came to their aid as well as a nearby police constable.

I remember the incident, it was very shocking at the time. I also remember Princess Anne visiting an orphanage or hospital in Africa as part of her role with Save The Children, and the gaggle of press were urging her to pick up and hold one of the babies (the way Diana did) and Anne told them to fuck off. She would not use the orphans for a photo opportunity.

I remember it! I loved Princess Ann as a young teenager.

I honestly find it amazing that people do a job protecting people like the RF/Celebs essentially putting themselves in front of them and taking the hit. I would never out anyone before my family. Madness!