There is a new twist in the shocking kidnapping attempt of Princess Anne of the British royal family in 1974. The sister to King Charles III, became the target of a stalker. Ian Ball overtook the royal car and began firing at Anne’s security detail. The Princess and her ex-husband, Mark Philips were unharmed. And the royal famously managed to keep her wits about her. Anne’s words of “not bloody likely,” became a symbol of her heroism and lack of compliance.
Ian admitted to attempted kidnap and two attempted murders. He was held in a psychiatric hospital “without limit of time,” as per the Mental Health Act. But 50 years after attempting the unthinkable, he is now a free man.
Ian Ball, once suspected of trying to kidnap Princess Anne, has spoken out 50 years following the drama
“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,” Ian told the DailyMail in August 2025.
He has been released from high-security psychiatric facility, Broadmoor Hospital. He is on probation. And presumably, on a mission to clear his name. Ian claimed that his actions that fateful night were simply “a hoax.” Recalling the events, he told the publication that he was “more scared” than Princess Anne.
At the time, police found a ransom letter addressed to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Ian also had two pairs of handcuffs in his vehicle. He later detailed a plan to hold the monarch ransom £3 million and use that money to fund treatments for psychiatric patients.
Further, The Princess found the whole ordeal “very irritating.” According to Smithsonian Magazine, she shared, “I kept saying I didn’t want to get out of the car, and I was not going to get out of the car.”
TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO IAN’S RELEASE?
