'I Was More Scared Than Princess Anne' – Kidnapper Claims It Was Just a Prank

Ian Ball, who was released from a psychiatric clinic in 2019, claims that his attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne in 1974 was a 'prank' to promote his autobiography.

In a new interview, Ball maintains that the kidnapping attempt was designed to fail and that he had reason to believe the bullets were blanks and the woman in the car was not Princess Anne.

On March 20, 1974, Ball stopped Princess Anne's car and began shooting, injuring the chauffeur and bodyguard. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment in a psychiatric clinic for the attempted murder of the bodyguard.

Ball claims the 'prank' was intended to gain publicity for him to write his autobiography and that a 'friend' in the police, known only as 'Frank,' assisted him. He also claims that Princess Anne was not frightened during the incident.

Princess Anne, in a 1980 interview, stated that she did not comply with Ball's instructions. A passerby, Ronnie Russell, punched Ball and knocked him to the ground, aiding in his arrest.

Prince Philip had commented that if Ball had managed to kidnap Anne, he would have been in a difficult position, as Anne is a 'difficult girl'.