Princess Anne displayed her brave and no-nonsense character when a gunman tried to kidnap her on her way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity event. The event that rocked the Royal Family took place 51 years ago on March 20, 1974, when Princess Anne was accompanied by her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and their bodyguard, Jim Beaton.

The Princess' vehicle was approaching The Mall when another car blocked its path and a man named Ian Ball got out wielding a shotgun. He shot at the royal's driver and security officer and a press photographer who attempted to intervene.

In the horrific event, the man tried to kidnap Princess Anne, intending to request a £2million ransom. When commanded by the man to exit the car, the Princess swiftly retorted with three firm words: "Not bloody likely!"

A boxer named Ronnie Russell fortunately also happened to be in the vicinity and immediately came to help, punching Mr Ball in the head.

Both Mr Beaton and Mr Russell were honoured for their bravery, with the former bodyguard being awarded the George Cross after he was shot three times trying to defend the Princess.

He later told the police in this statement: "I felt tired and very drunk, although I hadn’t been drinking. I just wanted to lie down."

Mr Beaton, journalist Brian McConnell, Anne’s chauffeur Alexander Callender, and police constable Michael Hills were all shot that night, but thankfully all survived.

The Princess Royal later went to visit Mr Beaton in hospital to thank him for his efforts, and he later told The Times how security practices changed for the Firm after the incident. He explained: "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 attempted murder and kidnapping, and was sent to Broadmoor Hospital due to his schizophrenia diagnosis.

Princess Anne bravely talked about the terrifying moment in a documentary celebrating her 70th birthday.

She recalled the incident on ITV's Anne: The Princess Royal at 70, saying: "What is interesting is what you remember and how you remember it, because although I thought I remembered everything that happened I would never have been able to swear I could remember in the right order. Because they were like photos, individual snapshots. Very clearly. Strangely I had thought it before that, 'what would you do if...'".

However, Anne was prepared for the unexpected, as she explained: "One thing about horses and sport is you have to prepare for the unexpected and you've got to think through the problems that are likely to occur. I suppose that was the discipline which to some extent coloured my thought processes."