His bravery in helping thwart an attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne almost 50 years ago saw him awarded the
Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Now it has emerged that the then Prince Charles wrote a touching letter to royal
luxury chauffeur nyc Alexander Callender who was shot during the incident on The Mall on March 20, 1974.
The Scot was driving the 23-year-old Princess Royal and her then-husband Captain Mark Phillips in a Daimler when Ian Ball swerved his Ford Escort in front of them.
He shot police bodyguard James Beaton in the shoulder and put his weapon to Mr Callender's head. As he tried to pull the princess out of the car, the Scot grabbed his arm and he was shot in the chest.
Princess Anne who survived a kidnap attempt in the Mall on March 20, 1974Royal Chauffeur Alexander Callender who saved Princess Anne from a kidnap attemptA touching thank you letter from King Charles to the Royal Chauffeur who was shot protecting Princess Anne from a crazed kidnapper 49 years ago
Two others were also shot in the scuffle before former boxer Ronald Russell ran to the scene and punched Ball. The kidnapper, who wanted a £3million ransom, was arrested and subsequently jailed for life.
Mr Callender, an Edinburgh-born war veteran, was treated at Westminster Hospital, where he recovered.
He died 20 years ago and his children are now selling his archive relating to the kidnapping attempt for £30,000. The two-page letter from Charles was written days after the incident while he was on board HMS Jupiter in the Pacific.
He said he was ‘mortified' to learn about the ordeal and thanked him for helping to save his sister.
Charles wrote: ‘I was absolutely appalled to hear of what you had to go through last week in The Mall - it sounded like the most ghastly nightmare imaginable and hardly possible somehow - but I do hope you are almost fully recovered and feeling much better.
‘When I heard of the dreadful attack while I was in California I simply could not believe it. I was mortified to hear that you had been shot as well, but I am so glad that your wounds were not too serious.'
Police searching the Mall for bullets near Buckingham Palace in London, after an attempt was made to kidnap Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, a few days earlier
How the Daily Mail reported the kidnapping attempt at the timePrincess Anne visiting her bodyguard, Inspector James Beaton, at Westminster Hospital in London while he recovered from gunshot wounds sustained during the attempt to kidnap the Princess in the Mall
He concluded: ‘The main thing, as far as I am concerned, is that Princess Anne was all right and you are still with us. I shall see you when I come home in April. Thank you for all you do for us over the years.'
The archive includes telegrams Mr Callender received from members of the Royal Family and a letter from Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
The chauffeur received his Queen's Gallantry Medal at Buckingham Palace on November 26, 1974.This award, together with his military medals, will also go under the hammer at London auctioneer Spink & Son on November 29.
Princess AnneKing Charles III