September 14th 2024.
It's been more than two years since the passing of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96. However, back in 1981, she narrowly escaped death during the Trooping the Colour parade. As she rode her horse down The Mall, a teenager named Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots at her, causing quite a stir in the media. The Queen was visibly shaken as her horse, Burmese, was startled by the gunfire.
Sarjeant, who was only 17 at the time, had traveled to London with the intention of assassinating the Queen. In fact, he had even sent a threatening letter to Buckingham Palace prior to the parade, warning them of the danger. Unfortunately, the letter didn't reach the Queen until after the event had taken place. She had no idea of the threat looming over her as she mounted her horse that day.
Armed with two blank-firing replica Colt Python revolvers, Sarjeant positioned himself near The Mall and Horseguards Road, where he fired his shots. Fortunately, he was quickly apprehended by Lance Corporal Alec Galloway of the Scots Guards and disarmed. When asked about his motives, Sarjeant simply stated that he wanted to be famous and to be someone important.
After the incident, Sarjeant was prosecuted under the Treason Act and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and upon his release in 1984, he changed his name and started a new life. He even wrote a letter of apology to the Queen, but unfortunately, he never received a response.
Before his conviction, Sarjeant's grandmother Sylvia expressed her love for the Royal Family and her disbelief that her grandson could be involved in such a heinous act. Luckily, the Queen's life was spared as Sarjeant's guns were loaded with blanks. However, this was not the first time she had been the target of an assassination attempt.
Ten years prior, in 1971, someone had placed a log on the railroad tracks in an attempt to derail the Queen's train as she traveled through Australia. Thankfully, the conductor spotted the log and stopped the train before any harm could be done. And just months after the 1981 incident, another 17-year-old attempted to shoot the Queen during her visit to New Zealand.
Despite these close calls, the Queen continued to ride her beloved horse, Burmese, and carry out her royal duties. Marcus Sarjeant may have changed his name and moved on from his past, but the memory of that fateful day in 1981 will always be a part of history.
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