Princess Anne Kidnapper Ian Ball Claims Innocence Says He Was More Scared Than She Was
Over 50 years after the failed attempt to kidnap Princess Anne Ian Ball claims the attack was staged denies guilt and says he was more frightened than the princess .
More than five decades after his notorious attempt to abduct Princess Anne Ian Ball has reemerged with startling claims about the 1974 incident that shocked the British public In a recent interview released on August 1 2025 Ball alleges the attack was a hoax suggesting it was orchestrated for publicity and to support his self-published autobiography .\
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Ball’s Key Allegations
Ball insists that the kidnapping attempt was never meant to cause harm and that he is in fact innocent Among his most controversial claims .
- Staged Weaponry
- Ball asserts that the bullets in his gun were deactivated claiming no real danger existed during the incident .
- Body Double Theory
- He argues the woman in the car wasn’t Princess Anne but a lookalike used for some larger plan .
- Anne’s Composure
- Ball claims he was more scared than she was and that she wasn’t bothered during the encounter .
- Disputed Dialogue
- Refuting the widely reported quote Not bloody likely Ball insists Anne said You just go away and nobody will think any more about it .
The Actual 1974 Attack
On March 20 1974 Ian Ball ambushed Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips on The Mall near Buckingham Palace Armed with a pistol he demanded Anne exit the car allegedly for a ransom of £2+3 million—money he claimed was intended for the NHS .
During the confrontation Ball shot and injured three men chauffeur Alex Callender bodyguard James Beaton and a passing journalist The ordeal ended when a bystander retired boxer Ronnie Russell bravely tackled and subdued Ball .
Ball later pleaded guilty to attempted murder kidnapping and wounding Diagnosed with schizophrenia he spent 45 years in psychiatric care before being released in 2019 .
Honoring Heroes
For their courageous actions .
- James Beaton received the George Cross the UK’s highest civilian bravery award .
- Ronnie Russell and Alex Callender were also formally honored .
Rewriting History
Ball’s new claims stand in sharp contrast to decades of public record Most notably .
| Claim | Historical Record |
|---|---|
| Incident was a hoax | Verified violent attack with multiple injured victims |
| Gun was harmless | Real bullets used; several people were seriously wounded |
| Princess Anne wasn’t present | Anne has personally recounted the event in interviews |
| He was more frightened than Anne | Anne described anger and resistance, not detachment or calm |
Ball also claims involvement in a conspiracy with a police contact nicknamed Frank suggesting the event was staged to help promote his book .
Princess Anne’s Reflection
In a 1983 interview Princess Anne described feeling furious and detailed a physical tug of war with Ball inside the car Her torn blue velvet dress served as evidence of the struggle Prince Philip later joked that Anne would’ve made a difficult captive emphasizing her strength and defiance during the ordeal .
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Conclusion
While Ian Ball’s version of events may serve to promote his autobiography or rewrite public perception his claims are widely contradicted by official records eyewitness accounts and Anne’s own testimony The 1974 kidnapping attempt remains one of the most infamous royal security breaches in modern British history .