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.