Let me tell you a story that feels like it’s straight out of a thriller novel. Fifty years ago, a brave man named James “Jim” Beaton stepped into the line of fire to protect Princess Anne during an attempted kidnapping by a man named Ian Ball. Now, this retired police officer is opening up about that terrifying day in 1974, sharing new details that give us a clearer picture of just how intense that situation was. It wasn’t just another day at the office for Beaton—it was a life-changing moment that left a lasting impact on him and the entire royal protection team.
Back then, Anne was only 23 years old and married to her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. They were making their way back to Buckingham Palace after attending a royal event when everything went south in an instant.
The Moment Everything Changed
According to Beaton, who is now 81 years old, the attack happened almost out of nowhere. “We were about three-quarters of the way up The Mall when this white car suddenly pulled in front of us. Out came Ian Ball, the driver of that car, heading straight toward the royal vehicle,” Beaton recounted during an interview with the BBC on March 20, 2024. “I jumped out of my seat, ready to do what I had to do, but before I could even react fully, he fired his gun. Bang, bang—he shot me in the chest.”
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Beaton’s bravery didn’t stop there. Even after being hit, he tried to return fire, but unfortunately, his gun jammed after missing his first shot. It was chaos, pure chaos.
Three Shots That Would Change His Life Forever
Ball didn’t stop there. He managed to fire three shots at Beaton, each one leaving a mark that the retired officer still carries to this day. “He fired again as my hand came up, and that bullet lodged itself in my hand,” Beaton explained. “Then, as we kicked open the back door of the car, there he was, standing there with his gun pointed at me. He shot me in the abdomen.”
Despite the pain and confusion, Beaton managed to get out of the car, though he admits he was pretty dazed. “I somehow made it around the front of the car and collapsed onto the pavement. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, but I knew I had to keep fighting.”
Princess Anne's Incredible Composure
While Beaton fought for his life, Princess Anne, now 73, showed incredible poise under pressure. She refused to leave the car with Ball, maintaining her composure even as her dress tore during the struggle. “There was a moment when the back of my dress split, and that was probably his most dangerous moment,” she admitted during an interview with Michael Parkinson in 1983. “I lost my cool right then and there.”
But Anne wasn’t alone in her bravery. A passerby named Ronnie Russell, a former professional boxer, saw the commotion and sprang into action. With a well-placed punch to the back of Ball’s head, followed by another to the face, Russell knocked him down, allowing Anne to escape safely.
Ball fled the scene temporarily but was eventually caught by police. He was charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. After pleading guilty, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sentenced to live in a mental health facility. To this day, he remains under supervision at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire, England.
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A New Era of Royal Protection
Beaton’s heroic actions earned him the George’s Cross, and he went on to serve as Queen Elizabeth’s police officer. Reflecting on the incident, he noted how dramatically royal protection changed afterward. “It was like night and day. Suddenly, we had better guns, better ammunition, more training, and more people on the team,” he said. “Things shifted almost overnight. It’s a completely different world now compared to when I first started.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the courage and dedication required to protect those in the public eye. Beaton’s story is not just one of survival but also one of transformation, highlighting how even the darkest moments can lead to positive changes.
