The man behind the audacious 1974 attempt to kidnap Princess Anne has reappeared in court, bringing back chilling memories of one of the most brazen royal security breaches in modern history.
On March 20, 1974, Ian Ball attempted to abduct the Princess Royal at gunpoint as she returned to Buckingham Palace with her then-husband Captain Mark Phillips. The shocking incident unfolded on The Mall, just yards from the royal residence.
A Night of Royal Terror
Ball, then aged 26, blocked the princess's car with his own vehicle before opening fire, wounding four people including Anne's personal protection officer, her chauffeur, and a passing journalist who intervened. The attacker reportedly demanded £2 million in ransom - equivalent to about £20 million today.
Remarkably, Princess Anne kept her composure throughout the ordeal. When Ball ordered her out of the car, she famously retorted: "Not bloody likely!" - a response that has since become part of royal legend.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Ball was quickly subdued by police and later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was sentenced to indefinite detention under the Mental Health Act and spent years in psychiatric hospitals.
Now, nearly 50 years later, Ball has returned to court as part of ongoing legal proceedings related to his case. The hearing has reignited public interest in what remains one of the most dramatic attacks on the royal family in living memory.
Royal Security Revolution
The 1974 incident prompted a major overhaul of royal security protocols. Before the attack, protection for royals beyond the monarch was relatively lax by today's standards. The failed kidnapping led to:
- Enhanced armed protection for all senior royals
- New vehicle safety standards
- Improved intelligence sharing between security services
- Stricter monitoring of individuals with mental health issues
Princess Anne, now 73, has never publicly spoken in detail about the traumatic event, though she has acknowledged it in passing during rare interviews. The incident remains a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by public figures - even those surrounded by security.
