Princess Anne has long been admired for her no-nonsense attitude and sharp wit.
But few moments showcase her courage more than the 1974 incident that shocked the nation.
The night of the attack
On 20 March 1974, the Princess Royal, then 23, was returning to Buckingham Palace after attending a charity event. She was travelling with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and their bodyguard, Jim Beaton.
As their car approached The Mall in London, another vehicle suddenly pulled in front of them and blocked their path.
The driver of the other car was Ian Ball. He was armed with a handgun and had planned a kidnapping. Ball’s aim was to abduct Anne and demand a £2 million ransom.
Confronted at gunpoint
© GettyBall jumped out of his vehicle and began shooting. He wounded police officer Michael Hills, Anne’s chauffeur Alexander Callender, and Daily Mail journalist Brian McConnell.
He also shot Anne’s personal protection officer, Jim Beaton, who attempted to shield the Princess despite being shot three times. All survived.
Ball then approached Anne’s car and tried to force her to leave the vehicle.
His chilling demand: “Come with me.” Anne’s legendary reply: “Not bloody likely.”
Help from a passer-by
© GettyRonnie Russell, a former heavyweight boxer, happened to be nearby. He rushed to help and punched Ball in the head. Russell’s intervention played a vital part in ending the terrifying situation.
Police soon arrived and arrested Ball, who was later found to have schizophrenia. He was sentenced to an indefinite stay at Broadmoor Hospital after pleading guilty to attempted murder and attempted kidnapping.
Princess Anne’s calm reflection
© GettyAnne, now 74, rarely speaks about the ordeal. But in the ITV documentary Anne: The Princess Royal at 70, she shared her thoughts on the terrifying experience.
She said: “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.”
She added: “Strangely, I had thought it before that, ‘what would you do if…'”
Her preparedness, she suggested, came from her equestrian background.
“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,” she said.
Honours for bravery
© GettyJim Beaton was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. Despite being seriously injured, he attempted to shield Anne at close range.
Reflecting on the event, Beaton said: “I felt tired and very drunk, although I hadn’t been drinking. I just wanted to lie down.”
He later spoke about the lack of planning and preparation for royal security at the time.
Princess Anne: 5 surprising facts
© Getty1. Hardest-working royal
In 2024, Princess Anne retained her crown as the hardest-working royal for a fourth year in a row, racking up an impressive 395 engagements in UK, alongside 79 abroad.
2. Criminal offence
Princess Anne became the first senior member of the royal family to be convicted of a criminal offence. In 2002, her three-year-old English Bull Terrier bit two children in Windsor, Great Park. She pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act and was fined £500.
3. Lucky escape
Just four weeks after her wedding in 1974, Princess Anne survived a kidnapping attempt. While driving down The Mall, her chauffeur had to stop the car due to another vehicle blocking the road. Ian Ball got out of the car and shot the chauffeur. Despite Ian shooting a total of four men in the encounter, Anne escaped unharmed.
4. Breaking tradition
When Anne’s children, Peter and Zara, were born, she declined the chance to grant them royal titles. She explained her decision to Vanity Fair: “I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles.”
5. Signature hairdo
In a 2020 documentary, Princess Anne exclaimed her surprise that it took two hours to style the hair of Erin Doherty, who portrays her in The Crown. Anne said it only takes her 10 to 15 minutes to do her own hair.
He told The Times: “I had nothing… There was no back-up vehicle. The training was non-existent; but then again, [we thought] nothing was going to happen. They are highly specialised now, highly trained.”
Ronnie Russell, who also received a gallantry medal for his actions, later revealed that Princess Anne personally wrote to thank him. In 2020, he auctioned the medal to help buy a home.
Public reaction
© GettyThe public widely praised Anne for her bravery and composure.
The story of her three-word reply became a defining moment in her royal image, cementing her reputation as one of the most unflappable members of the Royal Family.
Despite being under intense pressure, her reaction was cool, firm and fearless. It’s a moment many royal fans still talk about today.
A lasting impact
© Getty ImagesThe attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne led to major changes in royal security.
In the years since, security protocols have been tightened significantly for all senior members of the Royal Family.
Anne’s actions not only protected herself, but also highlighted the need for change, helping to ensure the safety of others.
Today, her response remains iconic. “Not bloody likely” has become synonymous with Anne’s famously no-nonsense approach, and a powerful example of strength in the face of danger.
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