Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Emma Loffhagen

The day Princess Anne was almost kidnapped on The Mall — 50 years on

“Your daughter has been kidnapped. The following are conditions to be fulfilled for release.” 

In March 1974, Ian Ball used a rented typewriter to haphazardly type a letter intended for the then-head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. Ball, 26, a funeral home worker, demanded £3 million — to be paid in £5 notes — in exchange for the return of the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.