Princess Anne: The Plot to Kidnap a Royal tells the story of how on March 20, 1974 Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips were travelling back to Buckingham Palace after a charity event when their path was blocked by another car.
The driver of the car, Ian Ball, then pulled out a gun and shot Mr Beaton, who was tasked with protecting the couple, and a nearby journalist who had tried to intervene.
After being hit in the shoulder Mr Beaton drew his own weapon but missed, then on the second shot his gun jammed.
Mr Ball had planned to hold Anne to ransom for £2million, but when he asked her to get out of the car she replied with impressive calm: “Not bloody likely.”
Fortunately boxer Ronnie Russell was also passing by and stepped in to put a stop to the incident by punching Mr Ball in the head.
Both Mr Beaton and Mr Russell were honoured for their bravery, with Mr Beaton, now 80-years-old, being awarded the George Cross.
Speaking to The Times in 2020 the former chauffeur and bodyguard relived the night in question: “I thought it was somebody who wanted to be a pain in the neck… There was no hint of what was to happen.”
After already being shot and having his own gun jam, Mr Beaton got into the car to protect the Princess and her husband after Mr Ball tried to force his way in.
Mr Beaton was shot again in the hand and the abdomen trying to obstruct Mr Ball’s bullets, later telling the police in a statement: “I felt tired and very drunk, although I hadn’t been drinking. I just wanted to lie down.”
Journalist Brian McConnell, Anne’s chauffeur Alexander Callender, and police constable Michael Hills were also shot that night, but thankfully all survived.
Mr Beaton was visited later by Anne as he recovered in hospital and told The Times how security practices changed at the Palace after the kidnapping attempt.
He said: “I had nothing… There was no back-up vehicle. The training was non-existent; but then again, [we thought] nothing was going to happen. They are highly specialised now, highly trained.”
Ian Ball was arrested and pleaded guilty to attemped murder and kidnapping, and was sent to Broadmoor Hospital due to his schizophrenia diagnosis, where he remains to this day.
Watch PRINCESS ANNE: THE PLOT TO KIDNAP A ROYAL on Channel 4 on Sunday, June 25 at 8pm or Stream on Channel4.com
