As the Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne has spent her whole life in the public eye.
And from an early age, she has been carrying out royal duties on behalf of her monarch mother. And almost 50 years ago while returning home from a charity event the princess, who turns 72 today, was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when her car was shot at as she drove into Buckingham Palace. It happened in 1974 as her vehicle drove down The Mall and a car blocked its way. Shortly after they reached it Ian Ball got out and pulled out a shotgun. He shot the royal's chauffeur and security officer, as well as a press photographer who tried to intervene.
Ball, who was trying to kidnap Anne and planned to ask for a £2million ransom, told the royal to get out of the car - but she bravely replied "not bloody likely".
Anne talked about the terrifying moment in a documentary which celebrated her 70th birthday two years ago, saying she still remembers each moment "like photographs".
She told ITV's Anne: The Princess Royal at 70: "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.
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"Because they were like photos, individual snapshots. Very clearly.
"Strangely I had thought it before that, 'what would you do if...'
"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."
Anne tried to talk Ball down, telling him she would not leave the car. Thankfully, another witness who was walking past the scene at the time punched Ball in the head twice - finally bringing the incident to an end.
The Queen gave all of the four people who Ball shot a medal as a thank you for helping to save her daughter's life.
For her birthday today, the official Royal Family social media accounts sent birthday wishes to Anne.
The Queen's official account shared a lovely picture of the princess with the message: "Wishing The Princess Royal a happy birthday today!"
Meanwhile, her nephew Prince William's official social media accounts he shares with wife Kate also sent a birthday message.
It read: "Wishing a very happy birthday to The Princess Royal today!" It was followed by a birthday cake emoji.
