TARGET: PRINCESS

The kidnap and £2 million ransom of a royal princess is a storyline worthy of a Hollywood movie, not the real life evening events on a London street in 1974.

As patron for Riding for the Disabled, newly married 23-year-old Princess Anne, her first husband Captain Mark Philips and lady-in-waiting, Rowena Brassey were returning to Buckingham Palace following an event for the charity. A white Ford Escort, driven by gun-wielding Ian Ball, brazenly cut o the royal maroon Rolls Royce as it drove down the Mall. Approaching Ball to question his interception, James Beaton, the Princess’ personal police o cer, received a shot to the shoulder; the injury and a jammed gun scuppering his retaliation. Returning to the car he proceeded to shield the Princess as Ball shot through the car window.

Recounting the frightening incident during an interview with talk show host, Michael Parkinson, the Princess recalled, “In the process of [Ball] getting the [car] door back open, the back of my dress split from the top and the shoulders went out of it. And that was his most dangerous moment. I lost my rag at that stage.” As the kidnapper demanded Anne get out of the car with her now famous response being “Not bloody likely!” her chau eur, Alexander Callendar intervened, receiving a shot to the chest. Journalist Brian McConnell and Police Constable Michael Hills received gun wounds too as they tried to disarm the attacker. Passer-by and former boxer, Ronnie Russell, subdued Ball with a punch to the head and led Anne to safety. Responding to Hills’ request for backup Detective Constable Peter Edmonds gave chase to Ball and arrested him.

Thankfully, despite being hospitalised by their injuries, all four wounded men survived. Recognising their exceptional acts of bravery and heroism, all the men involved received decorations from Queen Elizabeth II who poignantly remarked, “The medal is from the Queen, but I want to thank you as Anne’s mother.”