'The Crown' Season 3: Netflix show ignores Princess Anne's marriage and horrific 1974 kidnapping attempt
Did you know Princess Anne survived a kidnapping attempt when she was 24? Another scandalous event in the mid-1970s, it is a mystery why 'The Crown' showrunners chose to skip the horrific event from the series. The producers also revealed that the show will focus more on the Queen and Prince Philip's older children, Prince Charles (Josh O'Connor) and Princess Anne (Erin Doherty), during their younger adult life.
While Prince Charles and Camilla Shand's affair was dramatized in the new season, Princess Anne's on-and-off affair with Andrew Parker-Bowles also came into prominence. However, the series missed out on the horrific kidnapping attempt of Princess Anne as she traveled to Buckingham Palace with her husband in 1974. Moreover, Princess Anne's wedding has not yet been featured in the series as well.
On March 20, 1974, the biggest abduction of a member of the British royal family was attempted when an armed man attacked Princess Anne's chauffeur-driven limousine in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace. Driving a Ford Escort, the man was later identified as Ian Ball, 26. He began to fire at royal police protection officer James Beaton and driver Alex Callender. Beaton's vehicle was jammed and he got shot three times.
Princess Anne spoke about the ordeal on Parkinson in 1980 and said, "He opened the door, and we had a sort of discussion, hah, about where or where not we were going to go," Anne recalled. He said I had to go with him, can't remember why. I said I didn’t think I wanted to go. I was scrupulously polite because I thought it’s silly to be too rude or that sort of thing."
In documented evidence released later under the Thirty Years Rule, the princess stated that her response to this request was: “Not bloody likely!” Eventually, she accepted Ball's request but Ball was struck by former boxer Ron Russell, who happened to be passing by. Russell led Anne away from the scene and another policeman named PC Michael Hills, who tried to intervene, was shot by Ball.
Detective Constable Peter Edmonds came to the scene and finally disarmed and arrested the would-be kidnapper. Anne's escape was a miracle and post the event, the security was raised by a notch to make sure no one could come close to any royal member.
All four wounded men survived and received medals for their bravery along with boxer Ron Russell. The Queen bestowed the George Medal to Russell and said, "The medal is from the Queen, the thank you is from Anne's mother."
Shedding light on the shocking incident, author Anthony Holden wrote in his book 'Charles, Prince of Wales' that Prince Charles heard about it during a tour of New Zealand and insisted to Anne that he return home. Published in 1979, the book reads, "Prince Charles was first intent on flying straight home but Anne reassured him that she was recovered, if shaken. She would hear none of it and Charles continued to enjoy himself."
Towards the season finale of 'The Crown', Prime Minister Harold Wilson resigned from his post following an Alzheimer's scare. Wilson was the head of state from 1974 to 1976. Moreover, it ended with the publication of the Mustique photos and the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. In that case, season three of 'The Crown' chronicles the reign from 1964 to 1977 and it misses out on Princess Anne's marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973 and the devastating kidnapping attempt.
It is yet to be seen if the show makers muddle the timeline again and feature the controversial event in season four. All ten episodes of 'The Crown' Season 3 are now available for streaming on Netflix.