Princess Anne's courageous three words to gunman who tried to kidnap her

28 June 2024 , 13:23

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Princess Anne remembers the whole ordeal 'like photographs' (Image: Getty Images)

The Princess Royal shut down her attempted kidnapper as he tried to lure her out of the car at night.

Anne, 73, is currently recovering from a concussion and head injuries following an incident involving a horse at the Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday evening. The Princess, dubbed the strongest and hardest-working royal, has today been discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol after spending several nights being cared for.

But being struck by a horse is only minor for the King's sister, who has faced many life-changing experiences in her time. Her most terrifying ordeal dates back 50 years ago, when she was the victim of an attempted kidnap and car shooting in London. At the time, Anne was returning home to Buckingham Palace from a charity event.

The aftermath of Ian Ball's attempt to kidnap Anne on The Mall in 1974 (Getty Images)

It happened on March 20, 1974, as her vehicle drove down The Mall and a car blocked its way. A man called Ian Ball got out and pulled out a shotgun, then shot the royal's chauffeur and security officer, as well as a press photographer who tried to intervene. Ball attempted to kidnap Anne and had planned to ask for a £2million ransom.

He told the royal to get out of the car - but she courageously replied in three words, "not bloody likely". The Princess tried to talk Ball down, telling him she would not leave the car. Thankfully, another witness who was walking past the scene at the time punched Ball in the head twice - finally bringing the incident to an end.

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The late Queen gave all of the four people who Ball shot a medal as a thank you for helping to save her daughter's life. Ball later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping.

Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips with a group of guests who were all involved with foiling the kidnap attempt (Getty Images)

Anne talked about the terrifying moment in a documentary that celebrated her 70th birthday almost four years ago, saying she still remembers each moment "like photographs". She told ITV's Anne: The Princess Royal at 70: "What is interesting is what you remember and how you remember it, because although I thought I remembered everything that happened I would never have been able to swear I could remember in the right order.

"Because they were like photos, individual snapshots. Very clearly. Strangely I had thought it before that, 'what would you do if...' One thing about horses and sport is you have to prepare for the unexpected and you've got to think through the problems that are likely to occur. I suppose that was the discipline which to some extent coloured my thought processes."

Jennifer Newton