Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, has been a prominent figure in the public eye. However, a lesser-known and shocking chapter of her life includes a narrow escape from grave danger, alongside other scandalous events.

Controversies involving Royal Family members have captured headlines for years, and Princess Anne’s personal life is no exception. However, beyond the scandals, she is best known for her unwavering dedication to public service.

Princess Anne, who just turned 74 on August 15, 2024, is often hailed as the “hardest-working” royal, having been the busiest member of the family in 2017.

Known for inheriting her father’s sharp wit, she has made news not just for her public duties but also for her private life. Here’s a glimpse into five of the more scandalous aspects of her life in the public eye.

1. Princess Anne’s Courageous Escape from a Kidnapping Attempt

On March 20, 1974, Princess Anne narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping that shocked the nation. The incident occurred just months after Anne had married Captain Mark Phillips.

As she was being driven back to Buckingham Palace, a lone gunman, Ian Ball, intercepted her car. The Princess Royal, then only 23, suddenly found herself confronting a life-threatening situation just steps away from the palace gates.

Years later, Anne recounted the harrowing experience in a televised interview. She described how a car overtook theirs and forced them to stop, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

One of the bullets fired by her Scotland Yard bodyguard, she humorously noted, hit the back of her head, adding, “So that was a good start!”

Ball approached the vehicle, armed with two handguns, and attempted to force Anne out of the car. Despite the gravity of the situation, Anne remained remarkably composed.

She revealed how she tried to reason with her attacker, suggesting it would be better if he simply left, and even maintained a polite tone throughout their exchange, believing rudeness would have been unwise at that moment.

During the attack, Ball shot two police officers and Anne’s chauffeur, Alex Callender. He then attempted to pull Anne from the car, which prompted her to make a daring escape.

She described how she managed to open the car door, despite being held by Ball, and executed an ungraceful but effective backward somersault onto the pavement.

Ball’s escape attempt was short-lived, as Metropolitan Police officers swiftly arrived and apprehended him. It was later discovered that he had planned to demand a ransom of nearly $4 million from the Queen.

Ball was subsequently tried for attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in a psychiatric facility. Ronnie Russell, an amateur boxer who happened to be nearby, received the George Medal for his bravery in confronting Ball.

Russell had rushed to the scene, delivering a decisive punch to Ball and wrestling him to the ground, an act that undoubtedly contributed to Princess Anne’s safety.

Reflecting on the incident, Anne acknowledged that she had considered the possibility of such an event happening, given her position in the royal family.

She admitted, “I suppose the answer is I decided that I wasn’t going to get out if that particular situation arose.” However, she also noted that had there been more than one assailant, the outcome might have been different.

2. Her Controversial Marriages

Princess Anne’s first marriage, much like her later life, was marked by intense public interest. She married Army Lieutenant Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, in a grand ceremony that captured the world’s attention.

As the first of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s children to wed, Anne’s wedding was a significant event. The streets surrounding Westminster Abbey were filled with well-wishers, and an estimated 500 million people around the globe tuned in to watch the festivities.

The royal bride donned a Tudor-inspired gown with trumpet sleeves and a seven-foot train, complemented by the Queen Mary Fringe tiara. This same tiara was later worn by Anne’s niece, Princess Beatrice, at her own wedding.

The ceremony featured Anne’s younger brother, Prince Edward, as the pageboy, and her cousin, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, as a bridesmaid. The event, broadcast in an eight-hour BBC special, concluded with the newlyweds appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Anne and Phillips first crossed paths at a horse-riding competition in Mexico City in 1968. Their engagement, announced in May 1973, was celebrated with a photocall where Anne showcased her sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

When asked if her marriage could withstand the pressure of public duty, Anne famously responded, “Can? It’s got to, hasn’t it?” The couple welcomed two children, Peter in 1977 and Zara in 1981, and settled in Gatcombe Park, a sprawling estate gifted to Anne by the Queen.

However, their marriage was far from idyllic. Whispers of infidelity and a strained relationship persisted, though they never openly addressed these rumors.

By 1989, their marital struggles became impossible to ignore when Buckingham Palace confirmed that Commander Timothy Laurence, one of the Queen’s equerries, had written intimate letters to Princess Anne.

The revelation thrust Anne into a scandal, leading to the first royal divorce since Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon parted ways in 1978.

Friends of Laurence spoke of his deep affection for Anne, describing him as a confidant who provided the emotional support she lacked in her marriage. “Tim has filled a loneliness in her life,” a source remarked.

In April 1992, Anne filed for divorce from Phillips, following his denial of paternity in a lawsuit involving a child conceived during an alleged affair with a New Zealand art teacher.

The divorce was finalized that same year, amidst speculation that Anne intended to marry Laurence. Shortly after, Anne indeed married Laurence in a private ceremony in Scotland.