#Captain Mark Phillips

[thepastisalreadywritten]

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

On this day 50 years ago, 23-year-old Princess Anne found herself fighting off a gunman as her bodyguard and driver lay wounded beside her. Emma Loffhagen takes a deep dive into the disturbing day one of the most senior royals was almost kidnapped.

By Emma Loffhagen

20 March 2024

“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.

After becoming fixated with the 23-year-old princess, he spent two years hatching an elaborate plan to kidnap her.

Today, March 20, marks the 50th anniversary of Ball’s kidnap attempt — one of the most bizarre and disturbing episodes in British royal history.

A “loner,” Ball had been inspired to hatch his elaborate kidnap plot by the novel Day of the Jackal.

He wanted to follow in the footsteps of the book’s hero, the contracted assassin the Jackal.

“He was a very strange man,” Ball’s neighbour later said. “The only time he ever went out was when he went down to the launderette or went out for some food.”

It was thought that he had developed a “fixation” on the royal, whipped up by the widespread and lavish coverage of her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips the previous year.

As part of his plan, Ball had moved from his run-down flat in Bayswater to a lush rented house in Fleet, Hampshire.

It was only a few miles from Sandhurst, where Anne lived with her then-husband Phillips.

After a quick phone call to the Buckingham Palace press office, Ball knew which engagements and events Anne attended each week.

He rented a car under the alias John Williams, stocking the boot with Valium tranquilisers and two pairs of handcuffs.

On the evening of 20 March 1974, Anne was travelling back to Buckingham Palace in an Austin Princess limousine.

She had attended a screening of Riding Towards Freedom, a documentary by the charity Riding for the Disabled.

Captain Phillips, her bodyguard James Beaton, and her lady-in-waiting Rowena Jane Brassey, were also in the car driven by royal chauffeur Alexander Callender.

At around 8pm, as the group drove up The Mall, a white Ford Escort swerved in front of the limousine, forcing Callender to stop.

Then a 31-year-old inspector, Beaton, who had been Anne’s bodyguard for a year, got out to investigate.

“I thought it was somebody who wanted to be a pain in the neck,” he later said. “There was no hint of what was to happen.”

Suddenly, a bearded man with light red hair jumped out of the vehicle and pulled out two handguns, smashing the passenger window with the butt of one.

Beaton had not even had the chance to pull out his weapon when he was shot in the shoulder.

He then attempted to fire back at Ball — but missed. Upon a second attempt, his gun — a Walther PPK — jammed.

Ball turned to the passenger door behind the driver’s seat and started shaking it. Anne was sat on the other side. “Open, or I’ll shoot!” he shouted.

As the princess and Captain Phillips desperately tried to hold the door closed, Anne’s lady-in-waiting crawled out of the door on the passenger side.

Beaton got back in the car, placing himself between the couple and their assailant.

Ball shot into the car, and Beaton’s hand deflected the bullet.

He shot the bodyguard a third time, hitting Beaton in the abdomen and causing him to fall from the vehicle.

“I felt tired and very drunk, although I hadn’t been drinking,” Beaton later told police. “I just wanted to lie down.”

Callender stepped out to confront the gunman, but Ball shot him in the chest and he fell back into the car.

Pulling the door open, Ball grabbed Anne’s forearm as her husband held on to her waist.

“Please, come out,” Ball reportedly told the princess. “You’ve got to come.”

As the pair struggled over Anne, her dress ripped, splitting down the back, which she later recalled prompted her to “lose her rag.”

But, rather than panic, she had what she described as a “very irritating conversation” with her potential kidnapper.

Unbelievably calm despite the commotion, Anne famously replied: “Not bloody likely!”

In an interview with the late television presenter Michael Parkinson, she recalled:

“He [the gunman] opened the door and we had a discussion about where — or where not — we were going to go.

“I said I didn’t think I wanted to go. I was scrupulously polite because I thought it would be silly to be too rude at that stage.”

A nearby tabloid journalist, Brian McConnell, arrived on the scene.

Recognising the limo’s insignia, he realised the commotion must have involved a royal family member.

“Don’t be silly, old boy,” he told Ball. “Put the gun down.”

Ball responded by shooting him too and McConnell collapsed bleeding onto the road.

A man named Ronnie Russell drove past at this point.

He was on his way home to Strood, Kent, from working as an area manager for a cleaning company in London.

In a stroke of incredible luck, Russell happened to be a former boxer. He had cut his cloth at the Repton Club in east London, an infamous venue sponsored by the notorious Kray twins.

Jumping out of the car, Russell punched Ball twice in the head before leading Anne and her lady-in-waiting away from the attacker.

He later explained that he “did not like bullies,” which prompted his decision to intervene.

Despite being injured, Ball still shot the first police officer to arrive on the scene, Constable Michael Hills, 22, before running off.

Detective Constable Peter Edmonds, who answered Constable Hills’ radio request for backup, chased Ball down The Mall and through St James’s Park before tackling him on the ground.

At Ball’s Old Bailey trial in May 1974, more details came to light about the plot.

Ball kept his head lowered for most of the proceedings, only uttering the word “guilty” to confirm the charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.

In his pocket, detectives had discovered the kidnap note addressed to the Queen, which demanded the £3 million ransom (the equivalent of £26 million today), a free pardon, and a plane to fly him to Switzerland.

He had planned to take the princess to a central London property he had rented under an alias.

In a police interview, Ball also said he believed Anne would be an easy target after ascertaining her whereabouts by phoning the Buckingham Palace press office.

“I had thought about it for years,” he said. “She would have been the easiest. I have seen her riding with her husband.”

Ball also showed no remorse for having shot three men on the night of the attempted kidnap.

“They were getting in my way so I had to shoot them,” he said. “Well, the police, that's their job. They expect to be shot. I took a chance of getting shot so why shouldn't they?”

He added: “I suppose I’ll be locked up for the rest of my life. I am only sorry I frightened Princess Anne. There is one good thing coming out of this: you will have to improve on her protection.”

Ball was diagnosed with schizophrenia following the trial and sentenced to a mental health facility under the Mental Health Act, “without limit or time."

He remains in the Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire to this day.

The facility has been home to a series of notorious criminals, including serial killer Peter Sutcliffe and London gangster Ronnie Kray.

Immediately after the attack, the royals ceased having only one protection officer.

When Anne visited Beaton in hospital, “she turned up with two policemen,” her bodyguard said. “From then on, that’s what it was.”

“I had nothing…There was no back-up vehicle,” Beaton told The Times separately.

“The training was non-existent; but then again, [we thought] nothing was going to happen. They are highly specialised now, highly trained.”

Beaton continued to work for Anne for another five years — before the Queen employed him.

After Beaton’s weapon jammed, the type of guns used by bodyguards were also changed: “The Walthers were got rid of overnight.”

Beaton was honoured for his bravery, receiving the George Cross — the UK’s highest civilian honour for gallantry.

Russell also received the honour. In a 2006 interview, Russell recalled what Queen Elizabeth said as she presented his George Medal:

“The medal is from the Queen of England, the thank you is from Anne’s mother.”

[hrhzaratindall]

Zara tindall, Captain Mark Phillips and Peter Phillips talking about clearing the pond

[andreeamq]

[heavyarethecrowns]

[tianalaurence1]

"Princess Anne and her husband Mark Phillips, UK, 3rd April 1988. Phillips is walking on crutches.

[edgeofthegibbuniverse]

Anyone watching The Crown? I found this photo interesting. The gentleman with Barry is Captain Mark Phillips, who was the first husband to Princess Anne (King Charles’ sister). He was only briefly mentioned in the show, and they never did show their wedding. Anyhoo, this photo is from a 1985 clay pigeon shooting charity event. Enjoy!

[graphicpolicy]

Captain America Howls onto the Battlefields of World War II with the Howling Commandos

Captain America Howls onto the Battlefields of World War II with the Howling Commandos #comics #comicbooks

In the early 90s, Steve Rogers transformed into Capwofl in writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levins’ unforgettable “Man and Wolf” story arc. Now over 30 years later, Capwolf is back in his own limited series, Capwolf & The Howling Commandos! Written by Stephanie Phillips and drawn by Carlos Magno, this four-issue limited series will tell an all-new story where Steve becomes a terrifying…

[sweet-as-an-angel]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Masterlist

Ghost: Wanted: Ghost x König x Reader [HEAVY SMUT] Oral Support - Ghost x Reader

Ghost w/ a Petite S/O

Ghost w/ an Innocent S/O

The Type of Yandere Ghost is

Yandere Simon "Ghost" Riley Headcanons

Simon "Ghost" Riley w/ a Pregnant S/O

Simon "Ghost" Riley NSFW Alphabet

Ghost of Christmas Past [Ghost x Reader]

Simon “Ghost” Riley Headcanons

Ghost x Plus Size Reader Headcanons

Platonic Yandere Ghost x Childhood Best Friend Reader

Ghost w/ an S/O who Wears Glasses

Platonic Yandere Ghost x Reader Headcanons

Ghost w/ an S/O who is Self Conscious about Squirting a Lot

Dominant! Ghost Headcanons

Dominant! Ghost Headcanons [Repost]

Thigh Riding w/ Ghost

Ghost, König and You

Seraphim [Ghost x Reader]

The One where Soap finds Himself in an ✨ Awkward ✨Situation. [ Ghost x Reader ]

Ghost's Reaction to his S/O Stealing his Mask

A Family of His Own [Ghost x F! Reader]

Simon "Ghost" Riley w/ his S/O During a Panic Attack

Vampire Simon "Ghost" Riley Headcanons

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You in a Maid Outfit

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You Being a Cat Girl

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You Being a Cat Boy

Two Ghosts One Stone [Ghost x Reader x Ghost]

Simon "Ghost" Riley w/ a Tall S/O

Zombie! Ghost NSFW Headcanons

König:

Wanted: Ghost x König x Reader [HEAVY SMUT]

König Headcanons

Yandere König Headcanons + Ending

König x Plus Size Reader Headcanons

Dominant König Headcanons

König w/ his S/O during a Panic Attack

König w/ an S/O who Wears Glasses

König w/ a Mommy Kink

König w/ a Daddy Kink

König w/ a Petite S/O

Extra: König w/ a Petite S/O

Submissive König Headcanons

König w/ a Pregnant S/O

Breeding König

Thigh Riding w/ König

König w/ an S/O who is Self Conscious about Squirting a Lot

König w/ a Bratty S/O

Sylvannian Family [König x Reader Headcanons]

Ghost, König and You

Chokehold [König x Reader]

König w/ an Innocent S/O

König's Reaction to His S/O Stealing his Mask

König's Reaction to You Having a Stomach Bulge

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You in a Maid Outfit

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You Being a Cat Girl

Ghost & König’s Reaction to You Being a Cat Boy

Wild West Outlaw König

Vampire König Headcanons

Zombie! König NSFW Headcanons

Alejandro:

Yandere Alejandro Headcanons

Price:

Yandere Captain Price Headcanons

Graves

Yandere Phillip Graves Headcanons

All:

MW2 waking up next to their S/O

MW2 w/ an S/O who is Insecure about their Stretch Marks

MW2 and their P0rn Preferences

MW2 Cuddling Headcanons

MW2 Reaction to You Calling Them Submissive and Breedable

MW2 Reaction to Receiving a Special™ Photo from Their S/O

MW2 Reaction to Receiving a Love Poem from Their S/O

MW2 Reaction to You Having an Only Fans

MW2 Reaction to Their S/O Who Self-Harms

MW2 Reaction to You Asking Them to be Gentle

MW2 Reaction to You Being A Virgin

MW2 Reaction to You Panty-Flashing Them

Zombie! MW2 W/ a Human Sex Slave

Masterpost Subscribe to My AO3 account for more content like this ! Follow me on Wattpad, if you'd like ! Juicy Original Content Yandere Masterpost

[the-handsome-stranger]

THE GREAT SEA STORY

The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899.

"Know what this means?"

First Mate Payton broke in, "We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line". Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime.

He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line!

The consequences of this bizarre position were many:

The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer.

The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.

The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.

In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.

This ship was therefore not only in:

Two different days,

Two different months,

Two different years,

Two different seasons

But in two different centuries - all at the same time!

[l0velylecter]

cod : mw ii men and where they will leave lovebites

— cod : mw ii men + lovebites  pairings : simon ‘ghost’ riley / reader, john ‘soap’ mactavish, alejandro vargas / reader, captain john price / reader, phillip graves / reader, kyle ‘gaz’ garrick / reader  fandom : call of duty modern warfare ii rating :  e for explicit, minors don’t interact (mdni!), not safe for work (nsfw!) warnings : the descriptions get more explicit down the road, mentions of sex tags : here is a drabble before i get back to writing longer prompts, technically body worship, kissing, smooches, hickeys, female body parts, afab!reader

01 | Soap loves to kiss you where you’re ticklish, anywhere that leaves you writhing and squealing under him. If it's not against the junction beneath your earlobe and jaw, it's directly above your hipbone: teeth grazing the sensitive skin and mouth tugging the fabric of your cotton panties off. He even leaves a few on your ass before playfully smacking it, because Johnny can’t seem to get enough of how your laughter melts into a string of whines. 

02 | It’s almost impossible for Alejandro to avoid leaving hickeys down your throat. He's always so passionate, always so eager. The first thing he does when coming home from the field is to cup your face with both hands to smother you, crowding you against the wall to decorate the length of your throat with red and purple knots — something for the man to admire later.  03 | Price is obsessed with trailing kisses down your back. His lips, sometimes feather-light, causing shivers, and other times hot and heavy, forcing you to press your face into the pillow to hide your moans. And he would occasionally fixate on your stomach too, murmuring sweet nothings and breathless praises as his fingers work you open. And the thought of having a big, strong captain like him beneath you leaving love marks everywhere was nothing short of worship.  04 | Summertime has to be Gaz's favorite season because the moment your shoulders are out, he can't seem to focus on anything else. His favorite pastime consists of lifting you onto the dining table during a heated make-out session to lick down your throat and across your shoulders, impatiently brushing your hair aside to suck on the skin. And when he finishes inside of you, he would stifle his groans into your collarbone: breath, hot and heavy, prickling your skin.  05 | Of course, Graves's favorite place to kiss you is your chest, head always buried between them to leave wet, sloppy kisses. You hate yourself for how much you enjoy feeling his laughter reverberate against the bone of your sternum, and he's always so cocky about it too — smirking whenever your nipples turn hard under his teeth. 06 | When it comes to love bites, Ghost indulges in them without guilt, especially when he has his head between your legs — addicted to how you yelp whenever he sinks his teeth into your inner thigh. When he has the patience for it, Simon would deliberately drag slow and heavy kisses up your legs: starting from your ankle and all the way up to the junction between your crotch and upper thigh, and by the time he sucks on your clit you'd already be a sobbing mess. At times you'd catch him in the morning staring at the hickeys in silence. And behind the black paint, his eyes were somewhat satisfied and even smug.

[princessanneftw]

Princess Anne chatting to her father Prince Philip as he prepares to walk her down the aisle to wed Captain Mark Phillips on 14 November 1973

[trillscienceofficer]

check out these really cute pictures of Garrett Wang, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Phillips and Roxann Dawson... I don't think I've ever seen them before!

[From “Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages” by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman (1995)]

[hrhzaratindall]

Captain Mark Phillips Speaking about his daughter Zara

[andreeamq]

King Charles lll & Princess Anne ❤️

[heavyarethecrowns]

[tianalaurence1]

Princess Anne and then husband Mark Phillips in 1981.