Princess Anne’s would-be kidnapper has emerged from decades of psychiatric detention to make outrageous claims of innocence.
Story Overview
- Ian Ball, who shot four people attempting to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, now claims innocence
- Ball alleges the attack was a “hoax” and he thought the bullets were blanks
- His recent statements directly contradict his guilty plea and decades of documented evidence
- The original attack led to major overhauls in royal security protocols
Convicted Kidnapper Makes Shocking Claims
Ian Ball, the man who violently attacked Princess Anne’s motorcade on March 20, 1974, has resurfaced with bizarre claims of innocence nearly five decades after his conviction. Ball, who was quietly released from psychiatric detention in 2019, now insists he was “more scared” than Princess Anne during the attack and that the entire incident was somehow a “hoax.” These assertions fly in the face of documented evidence, including his own guilty plea to attempted murder and kidnapping charges.
Princess Anne’s attempted kidnapper claims he is ‘innocent’: ‘I was more scared than she was’ https://t.co/HD9d6oSFuz pic.twitter.com/mVlvckOh1B
— New York Post (@nypost) August 5, 2025
Ball’s recent interviews reveal a disturbing attempt to rewrite history. He claims he believed the bullets in his gun were blanks and suggests Princess Anne was actually a body double during the attack. These fantastical assertions ignore the very real injuries suffered by four people he shot, including Anne’s bodyguard Inspector James Beaton, chauffeur Alex Callender, police officer Michael Hills, and journalist Brian McConnell. Ball’s revised narrative conveniently omits his ransom demand of £3 million and his written plan to donate the money to the National Health Service.
Watch: Princess Anne’s attempted kidnapper released from Broadmoor
The Brutal Reality of Ball’s Attack
The documented facts of March 20, 1974, paint a starkly different picture than Ball’s recent claims. Ball deliberately blocked Princess Anne’s limousine on The Mall near Buckingham Palace, opened fire on her security detail, and demanded she exit the vehicle. When Anne famously refused with “Not bloody likely!” Ball continued his violent assault until retired boxer Ronnie Russell intervened, punching Ball and allowing police to subdue the attacker.
Ball’s attack represented the first and only attempted kidnapping of a senior British royal in modern times. His systematic shooting of multiple defenders demonstrates clear premeditation and violent intent, contradicting his current portrayal as a confused, harmless individual. The severity of the attack prompted immediate and lasting changes to royal security protocols, transforming how the monarchy approaches public safety.
Expert Analysis Debunks Ball’s Narrative
The consistency of witness testimony, police records, and medical evidence from the scene leaves no credible room for Ball’s revised version of events. Ball’s emergence with these claims raises serious questions about the transparency of his release and ongoing supervision. His ability to publish a book and give interviews promoting a false narrative about attacking a member of the royal family demonstrates either inadequate monitoring or a troubling disregard for public safety. Patriots should be concerned about any attempt to minimize or excuse violence against national institutions, regardless of the perpetrator’s claimed mental state.
Sources:
Wikipedia – Anne, Princess Royal
SPYSCAPE – The Crazed Kidnapping Attempt Princess Anne Dismissed as ‘Not Bloody Likely’
Smithsonian Magazine – The Bloody Attempt to Kidnap a British Princess
