Man convicted of kidnapping attempt on Princess Anne claims he's 'innocent' 51 years later
A remarkable royal taleIan Ball, the man convicted of attempting to kidnap Princess Anne, has claimed he’s innocent in a new interview.
Ball, now 77, was 26 when he ambushed the Princess Royal as she returned from an engagement.
So, when did the incident happen, and how did Anne react? Read on to find out more.
Princess Anne’s kidnap ordeal: What happened?
March 1974
The extraordinary incident occurred on March 20, 1974, as the late Queen’s daughter returned to Buckingham Palace following a charity event.
During the commotion, Ian Ball, who was armed, ended up shooting four people. It has been reported that Anne’s actions helped stall Ball as he demanded the then 23-year-old Princess Royal get out of her car.
But other reports have claimed the much-admired sister of King Charles refused point blank to consider Ball’s request, telling him: “Not bloody likely!”
What happened next?
Joining Princess Anne in her vehicle were her then-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, her lady-in-waiting, and her bodyguard, Inspector Jim Beaton.
As the car headed to the palace, it was cut up by a Ford Escort, which forced the driver to stop.
Ball then jumped out of the vehicle and approached the royal limo – and confronted Beaton with a gun when the officer stepped out himself. Ball then proceeded to shoot the bodyguard.
Due to his injury, Beaton was unable to return fire. Then his own weapon jammed. And by this time, Ball had ordered those in the car to open up or he’d shoot.
As Captain Phillips and the lady-in-waiting struggled to keep the car secure, Beaton managed to clamber back in and put his own body between Ball and Princess Anne.
He was then shot two more times, receiving further injuries to his hand and abdomen. Beaton later recalled in a police statement: “I felt tired and very drunk, although I hadn’t been drinking. I just wanted to lie down.”
The driver, Alexander Callendar, was also shot, and a passing journalist who also tried to intervene was the third person to be shot.
Eventually, boxer Ronnie Russell, who was also passing, subdued Ball with a punch to the back of the head. At that point, Police Constable Michael Hills happened upon the scene and was also shot by Ball.
All of those shot at survived. Jim Beaton and Ronnie Russell each received a George Cross for gallantry.
Was Ian Ball arrested?
Remarkably, despite Ball shooting four different people, there were no fatalities.
He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping. Ball pleaded guilty to the charges. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and detained at Broadmoor Hospital. According to reports, he was released on probation in 2019.
How Princess Anne’s responded to kidnapping ordeal
During a 1983 appearance on Parkinson with host Michael Parkinson, Anne recalled: “He opened the door, and we had a sort of discussion about where or where not we were going to go. He said I had to go with him, I can’t remember why. I said I didn’t think I wanted to go.
We had a fairly low-key discussion about the fact that I wasn’t going to go anywhere.
“I was scrupulously polite because I thought it’s silly to be too rude or that sort of thing. We had a fairly low-key discussion about the fact that I wasn’t going to go anywhere and wouldn’t it be much better if he moved away and we’d all forget about it?”
Ian Ball insists he’s ‘innocent’
In a new interview in 2025, Ball has expressed his innocence. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ball said: “I’m an innocent, sane man because I had good reason to believe the gunpowder had been taken out of the bullets and another girl had been substituted for Princess Anne.”
He said of Anne: “She wasn’t bothered on the night… I didn’t scare her. I was more scared than she was.”
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
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