"Not bloody likely!"

March 20, 1974 - It was on this day that Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were attacked as part of a kidnapping scheme.

The couple was returning to Buckingham Palace following a charity event when a Ford Escort pulled in front of their limousine and forced them to stop.

The driver of the Escort was Ian Ball. He jumped out and ran toward the Royal limousine while brandishing a gun. The Princess's personal police officer confronted Ball but his gun jammed and he was shot by the attacker. The Princess's chauffer, Alex Callender also tried to disarm Ball, but he too was shot. The next man to take a bullet for the Princess was a journalist named Brian McConnell. He happened to be nearby and rushed to provide aid. Ball shot him in the chest.

The gunman then approached the limousine and explained to the Princess and Phillips that he intended to kidnap and hold them for ransom, which he would in turn hand over to the National Health Service.

Ball demanded that the Princess and her husband come out of the limousine so he could get on with his plan. The Princess responded, "Not bloody likely!"

Frustrated by the stubborn Princess, Ball tried to yank her out of the limo but Phillips pulled her back in. The Princess eventually dove out the opposite side of the car and made a run for it.  At the same time, a pedestrian named Ron Russell saw what was going on and punched Ball in the back of the head.

Police Constable Michael Hills arrived on scene and was promptly shot by Ball, but he did manage to radio in for more help. Detective Constable Peter Edmonds was the one who finally chased Ball down and arrested him.

Thankfully all the people who were shot would recover from their wounds. All received various awards for their heroism.

Ian Ball pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping and he was promptly carted off to a high-security psychiatric hospital, and that’s where he’s been ever since.