Princess Anne is widely known as the hardest working royal, but she also proved she has nerves of steel during a kidnapping attempt.

On the evening of March 20, 1974, Anne and her then husband, Mark Phillipswere on their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity event when a Ford Escort overtook their car and forced them to a halt.

The escort driver, Ian Balljumped out of the vehicle and started shooting a gun. James BeatonAnne’s personal police officer at the time, was shot three times during the altercation.

“It went boom and he shot me in the chest,” Beaton recalled in a March 2024 statement. the BBC. “I tried to shoot back at him with my gun. I missed the first shot and then the gun jammed.”

Beaton was also shot in the hand and abdomen while trying to protect the princess.

“I still have a piece of bullet in my hand,” the now retired inspector told the BBC.

When Ball, who also shot Anne’s driver, Alex CallenderAnd Brian McConnellone nearby Daily email journalist who tried to intervene and order the princess to leave the vehicle, Anne famously replied: “[Not] damn probably.”

According to Smithsonian MagazineAnne later told police she had “a very annoying conversation” with her attempted kidnapper.

“I kept saying I didn’t want to get out of the car, and I didn’t intend to get out of the car,” she reportedly explained to police.

Cop Michael Hills, who was patrolling in the area at the time of the attack, was the first on the scene. Ball shot him in the stomach, but Hills still managed to call for reinforcements before collapsing.

Former boxer Ron Russel was also in the area at the time and witnessed Hill being shot.

“I stopped and heard a lot of banging and banging, which I thought was the general commotion. But then Ball shot a police officer, and I thought, ‘That’s a liberty, he needs to be sorted,'” Russell told police. Eastern Daily Press in 2006.

Russell said he then hit Ball once in the back of the head and once “fairly” on the chin.

“He went downstairs and there were police everywhere,” he remembers.

Ball was subsequently arrested. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to life in a mental health institution. He is currently being held at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric hospital.

After the attempted kidnapping, police found two pairs of handcuffs and a ransom note addressed to Queen Elizabeth II in Ball’s rental car. According to The guardBall’s plan was to hold Anne to ransom of £3 million and give the money to the National Health Service for the treatment of mental patients.

During a 1980 appearance on the British talk show Parkinson’sAnne recalled being “scrupulously polite” to Ball until he tore her dress.

“I thought it was stupid to be too rude at that moment,” she explained. “The back of my dress tore and that was his most dangerous moment. At that moment I lost my lap.”

Beaton, Hills, Callendar and McConnell were all hospitalized after the ordeal and all recovered from their wounds. For Beaton’s defense of Anne, the Queen awarded him the George Cross, which recognizes acts of extreme courage performed by civilians and military personnel when not in the presence of an enemy.

Hills and Russell received the George Medal, while Callender and McConnell received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

Anne went to visit Beaton in hospital shortly after the attack.

“When Princess Anne came to see me at the hospital, it was quite funny because the staff said, ‘Come on, you have to wear something.’ Cover your chest and all the wounds and stuff,” Beaton told the BBC in March 2024. “I said, ‘Oh, stop it.’ We just said, you know, ‘[We’re] I’m glad we’re all still alive and kicking, so to speak.’”

• The woman suffered stab wounds
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By Pranav Harish for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:36 PM EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 11:37 PM EST, March 7, 2024

By Ali Daher for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:54 EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 06:58 EST, March 7, 2024

By Pranav Harish for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:33 EST, February 28, 2024 | Updated: 03:41 EST, February 28, 2024

After almost five weeks of tears, tantrums and explosive rows, the first Love Island All Stars final is just around the corner. 

The series started on Monday January 15 and after five drama-filled weeks, it will come to an end on Monday. 

The winners will be given the option to split a cash prize of £50,000 between them or steal it, meaning one person walks away with the whole sum and the other gets nothing. 

Viewers have witnessed everything from exes being left heartbroken for a second time, while others have formed strong connections that will later be tested outside of the show.

MailOnline takes a look back at the most dramatic moments of Love Island All Stars.

Exes Callum Jones and Molly Smith BOTH entered the villa

Love Island exes Callum Jones and Molly Smith were given quite the shock as they both entered the villa as bombshells at the start of the series.

The couple met when Molly was a Casa Amor bombshell on the 2020 season and went on to have a three-year relationship, even moving in together in Manchester.

But they broke up just six months ago and had an awkward on-screen reunion when they both shockingly entered the South African villa during the All Stars launch.

Callum was revealed to be the first bombshell shaking things up in the villa directly after host Maya Jama coupled up the main line-up of former show legends.

However in an epic and very unexpected twist, Molly walked in directly after him as a second bombshell, leaving Callum completely stunned. 

Upon her entrance, Callum was wide-eyed as Molly strutted her stuff through the doors, leaving the rest of the villa reeling at the very uncomfortable reunion.

Maya then explained that Callum would have a choice between stealing one of the girls from an existing couple, or coupling up with his ex-girlfriend Molly. 

Molly was seen looking unimpressed and rolling her eyes at the prospect of Callum picking her following their break-up, as the pair did not appear to be on good terms.

He picked Molly in the first recoupling, but the pair have went on to enjoy connections with other islanders.  

Jake Cornish QUIT within days of entering the villa

Jake Cornish dramatically quit Love Island All Stars after just three days in the villa.

The former contestant, 26, who starred on series seven of the show, faced an awkward reunion with ex Liberty Poole, 24, when he entered the South African villa.

Jake decided he ‘couldn’t stay’ after the public voted for the exes to be coupled up together on last night’s launch show.

‘Jake was really shocked to see Liberty in the villa – they had no idea the other person would be there,’ a source told The Sun.

‘It was clear from the start they wouldn’t get back together, then none of the girls wanted to step forward for him.

‘Jake had a nice three days in the villa and had a very emotional chat to Maya Jama, he couldn’t stay in the villa so he quit the show. It’s not his time and it’s not the right time to find love. 

‘Messy Mitch’ got into an explosive argument with Luis Morrison

‘Messy Mitch’ got into an explosive argument with Luis Morrison over Demi Jones.

Luis fell out with Mitch after learning the former gas engineer had told some of their fellow Islanders of Luis’s kiss with Demi.

Series one star Luis was chosen by Kaz in the recoupling after they shared a number of flirty chats.

But he was seen sharing a passionate kiss with Demi during Thursday’s episode, which Mitch had gossiped about, as he is also vying for Demi’s affections.

Luis exploded into a shocking outburst, summoning Mitch over by raging: ‘Mitch, come here Bruv. You know what you did there, Bruv.’ 

He went on to brand Mitch a ‘s**t stirring little p***k’ and ordered: ‘Don’t talk to me ever, Bruv’.

Mitch again told him to ‘behave” and then told Luis to ‘take his hands out of his face’ while their co-stars looked on in shock. 

Once things later calmed down, Luis attempted to clear the air, saying: ‘Come here brother, sorry bro…I’m sorry man…I don’t want any rift in here.’

Demi Jones and Luis Morrison were given the boot from the villa just one week in

Love Island All Stars viewers were left stunned as two Islanders were given the boot from the villa in a shock dumping just one week after the show launched. 

In a surprise twist Demi Jones and Luis Morrison became the first Islanders to be dumped after both contestants were left single.

Bombshell Tyler Cruickshank was seen arriving in the villa just before the dumping, with him and fellow bombshell Arabella Chi, who arrived last week, choosing who they wanted to be coupled-up with.

Arabella picked Chris Taylor, who had been paired with Demi, while Tyler chose to reunite with his ex Kaz Kamwi, who had been coupled with Luis.

After their partners had been stolen, host Maya Jama said: ‘Demi and Luis, I’m afraid your Love Island journey has now come to an end.

‘You’ve both been dumped from the island. I’m sorry guys. Please pack your bags and head outside of the villa.’

The surprise move left the other Islanders stunned before the said their emotional goodbyes.

Anton and Mitch’s explosive row 

Anton put Messy Mitch ‘in his place’ 

Anton was praised by fans when he put Messy Mitch in his place during a tense argument. 

The Scot, 29, had firm words for fellow Islander Mitch, 27, from 2023’s series, after his actions caused partner Liberty Poole to run to Anton in tears.

Comforting a distressed Liberty, Anton told her he believed Mitch was chasing ‘clout’ as he spoke constantly about growing his social media following.

When Anton’s suggestions that Mitch does not have noble intentions for Liberty got back to Mitch, he confronted Anton over breaking ‘bro code’.

Mitch declared: ‘You are talking to Lib behind my back, going against me, and it’s not really bro code.’ He then firmly told Anton: ‘Keep your nose out of my business.’

Anton swiftly hit back: ‘There is no bro code. There is right and wrong… I’m telling her my opinion. If your girl comes crying to me asking for advice I will give her my advice. You’ve been together seven days and made her cry twice…’

Unimpressed, Mitch said: ‘You’re just a d**k Anton,’ before calling him a ‘k***head’.

Un-fazed, Anton replied: ‘Look at yourself, don’t look at me. Be a man, not a boy.’

Toby dumping Arabella to steal Georgia S from Callum in the series’ most shocking recoupling

Love Island All Stars viewers are left in complete shock as Toby Aromolaran recoupled with Georgia Steel over flame Arabella Chi.

The former footballer hinted he was still interested in Georgia earlier in the episode to Chris Taylor after he previously ditched her to her to know other people.

In the dramatic recoupling, Toby had not told Arabella he was still interested in the brunette beauty still.

He said: ‘I’ve been going back and fourth with this.

‘I have her back as much as she has mine. I can see this working on the outside and I have a real opportunity here.

‘Fortune favours brave, so the person I would like to couple up with is…. Georgia’.

Jaws quickly dropped in the South African villa as Georgia made her way to sit with Toby while Arabella remained standing around the fire and Georgia’s partner Callum looked over in shock.

Sophie Piper was heard saying: ‘Imagine waiting til the recoupling speech and not saying anything to you Arabella’.

ITV2 fans quickly took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to praise Toby for finally ‘bringing the drama’ to the villa.

Georgia S was FINALLY exposed during dramatic PDA Awards

Love Island viewers rejoiced as Georgia Steel’s ‘sneaky’ ways were finally exposed during the dramatic PDA Awards.

The reality star, 25, had been coupled up with Callum, 27, before her head was turned by new arrival Tom Clare, who she has romantic history with.

Viewers have watched as Georgia, who is now coupled up with Toby Aromolaran, dismissed her flirty chats with Tom to the other Islanders.

Most notably to her love interest Callum when they shared a night in the hideaway together and she told him he was the only person she wanted to be there with.

However, the villa was rocked when it was revealed that Georgia isn’t quite as honest as she was making out.

During the nominations for ‘sneakiest islander’, a video clip of each of Georgia’s interactions with Tom was aired for the entire villa.

This included a clip of her approaching Tom following her night away with Callum, where she told him that she still fancied him.

A further video of the pair playing a game of truth or dare, showed her telling Tom that she would rather be coupled up with him over Callum.

While viewers have watched it play out, her co-stars have been none the wiser to her flirty antics with both contestants.

As she was finally exposed during the awards challenge, viewers admitted they were delighted to watch her downfall.

Molly broke down in tears following confrontation with Georgia S

Love Island All Stars fans heaped praised on Molly Smith after she broke down in tears after the PDA awards.

Georgia S’ ‘sneaky’ ways were finally exposed, as clips revealed her flirtations with Callum Jones, Tom Clare and Toby Aromolaran.

The villa was rocked as they learned about her flirty antics as she was voted ‘sneakiest islander’.

The fall out from the awards was far and wide as the Islanders shouted across the garden at each other following the revelations.

Callum declared he was ‘done’ with Georgia as she tried to defend herself, and then compared her ‘history’ with Toby to Callum’s three and a half year relationship with Molly.

This angered the exes and Molly then broke down in tears as she fumed that Georgia was diminishing her relationship.

She stormed off with Arabella Chi and said: ‘It’s a three and a half year relationship and she’s comparing it to her and Toby. What the f**k? I know I’m getting so upset but she’s p***ed me off.

‘It just really infuriates me that she’s trying to compare her and Toby to my three and a half year relationship that I stepped to the side for, for her to crack on.

‘I don’t understand how someone can be so self absorbed to that extent. It’s f***ing rude and then also trying to crack on with Tom? Make your mind up!’

Joanna Chimonides crying over Chris Taylor and Anton Danyluk’s fiery argument over ‘sexual chemistry’

Joanna Chimonides broke down in tears as a wild row erupted among the villa’s sexy singletons.

Things got heated around the firepit as Chris Taylor and Anton Danyluk got into a viscous argument over ‘sexual chemistry’ as the Islanders were encouraged to tell each other what they really thought of their pairings.

After being told to ‘chill out’ by his co-stars, Chris exploded at Anton: ‘It’s f***ing starting to p**s me off.’

During the game, Georgia Steel and Toby Aromolaran read out the questions, with the first being: ‘Which couple has the least sexual chemistry?’

Turning around he and Georgia Harrison ‘s blackboard, Anton revealed he had voted for Chris and Joanna and took a swipe at Chris’ ‘jokey’ personality.

He said: ‘Chris and Jo, purely because when we see you it’s really jokey and I get that’s a big part of your personality but again, I’ve just not seen that sort of display of affection with either of you.’

Chris admitted: ‘That’s a stinger that.’

Joanna added: ‘There’s nothing really else to say.’

Tensions began to rise as Toby read out the next question: ‘Which couple is the most one-sided?’

Speaking under his breath Casey O’Gorman said: ‘This is probably the easiest one isn’t it’.

Anton revealed he and Georgia H had chosen Chris and Joanna again, he explained: ‘Obviously Joanna’s expressed that she’s not feeling the same way’.

Butting in and circling back to the previous question, Joanna replied: ‘The fact that I’m exploring something else doesn’t mean that we didn’t have sexual chemistry, that we didn’t have anything like that.’

Casey added: ‘If you wanted to defend about the sexual chemistry, you should have said it then’.

Defending Joanna for processing her thoughts, Chris argued: ‘We’re allowed a bit of time to think about how we are feeling about things.’

‘Yeah, chill out, f***ing hell’, Casey replied.

Turning to Chris, Anton agreed: ‘Piping up way too much, mate’.

Chris was left unimpressed by the boys and added: ‘It’s f***ing starting to p***me off. Anton, what do you mean? What because I’m defending the situation?’

Raising her hands to her face Joanna couldn’t hold back her tears, she said: ‘I hate this f***ing game’.

The heartrate challenge

Molly and Callum awkwardly raised each other’s pulses the most in the heartrate challenge during Monday’s Love Island All Stars.

The heart rate game sees the Islanders dress up and perform a series of sexy dances to the group of the opposite sex who gather around the fire pit.

After the boys and girls stripped down to risqué outfits for the steamy challenge, the results revealed Callum and Molly, who split just last year, might still have a spark for one another.

As Callum and Molly surprisingly got each other’s pulses raised, Tom Clare was left fuming at the results.

Tom and Molly, who are seemingly going strength to strength in their couple, landed bottom of the challenge for failing to raise their hearts at all.

Tom had his heart raised by former flame Georgia Steel, while Callum manage to raise his partner Jess Gale’s heart.

Coming out triumphs in the challenge, Sophie Piper and Joshua Ritchie were the only couple to collectively raise each other’s hearts.

Minutes after Georgia Harrison revealed the results tension quickly rose between Molly, Callum and Tom, leaving the group too stunned for words.

By David Southwell for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:09 EST, February 15, 2024 | Updated: 07:52 EST, February 15, 2024

By Rachel Bowman for Dailymail.Com

Published: 4:33 PM EST, February 14, 2024 | Updated: 5:17 PM EST, February 14, 2024

Residents of Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula faced even more devastation last week as they experienced the third volcanic eruption since December.

Now a satellite image reveals the true extent of the latest eruption.

The image was taken by the European Union's Copernicus satellite SENTINEL-2 just 10 hours after the eruption on February 8.

It shows how lava flowed quickly into the frozen landscape, traveling up to 2.8 miles (4.5 km) west and destroying pipes that provided hot water to 20,000 people.

It also shows how close the lava hit the vital Svartsengi power plant.

At around 5:30 am local time on February 8, an eruption tore open a 3 km long fissure in the earth just 4 km north of Grindavik.

At the time of the eruption, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) estimated that nine million cubic meters of magma had accumulated in a volcanic chamber.

When the pressure eventually became too great and the volcano erupted, it spewed lava into the surrounding area.

In the striking satellite image you can see the vast area covered in still-glowing lava flows.

Previous eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have caused lava flows to travel south and come dangerously close to Grindavik and the nearby power station.

In January, lava from the most dangerous eruption traveled to the outskirts of the city, destroying at least three houses.

However, as this image shows, the lava from the February 8 eruption traveled mainly westward.

The Copernicus satellite image shows that the lava flow traveled 4.5 km from the eruption site and settled into a long thin stream.

On the satellite image you can also see that the gas plume is being shot outwards by the eruption.

The Copernicus team said in a statement: “The smoke plume and lava flow can be clearly seen near the town of Grindavik.”

Although the white plume in the image is mainly steam, IMO also noted during the early phases of the eruption that “a distinctive, dark plume” emerged from part of the eruption.

According to the IMO, this was likely due to the interaction of lava with groundwater, resulting in mild explosive activity.

Although the satellite image shows plumes traveling over Grindavik, the IMO continues to insist there is no longer a risk of gas pollution in the city.

Within the city of Gridavik, the biggest risks now are sinkhole formation and earthquakes caused by 'fault movements'.

However, closer to the lava flows, hazards from gas pollution are still considered likely.

While this latest eruption poses no immediate threat to settlements, its effects have been hugely disruptive.

Lava hit a major hot water pipe leading from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

The Copernicus team said: 'The lava flow has disrupted hot water supplies to more than 20,000 households, and the local Civil Protection Agency has raised its alert level to a state of emergency for the entire region of the Reykjanes Peninsula.'

Work is underway to repair the pipeline, but it may be several days before hot water services return.

There are also concerns that lava could hit important pipelines near the Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

If this were to happen, another 30,000 people could be affected.

However, according to the IMO, the eruption has now subsided, meaning further damage is unlikely.

In a statement on February 9, the IMO wrote: 'No eruption activity was observed during a drone flight over the eruption site conducted at 12 noon today. This suggests the eruption has ended.”

Volcano activity in the area has also decreased significantly since February 8, raising hopes that the worst of the eruption is now over.

Still, experts suggest that more eruptions are likely to occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the coming months.

Iceland has extremely high levels of volcanic activity due to its location above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

This crack in the ocean floor divides the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and allows eruptions to occur regularly.

The island itself experiences an eruption about every four to five years, but the Reykjanes Peninsula has lain dormant for eight centuries.

There have now been five eruptions since August 2022 and three since December alone.

This has led volcanologists to say that this was likely the start of a new era of activity in the region.

Not once had the masked slipped an inch. Not once had he lost patience or any of his easy charm. Travis Kelce’s opening words this week were about Taylor Swift as he answered the first of countless questions about the relationship which dominated the build-up to this first Super Bowl in Sin City.

On Saturday night, his final message to his Kansas City Chiefs teammates was so inspiring it moved some people to tears. And then, on the biggest stage of all, in perhaps the biggest Super Bowl of all time, it was Kelce’s turn to break down.

There were no tears but Swift was in the stands and, for once, she was in the shade, too. Shortly before half-time in Las Vegas, with his team trailing the San Francisco 49ers, Kelce screamed in the face of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He nearly knocked the 65-year-old off his feet and had to be hauled away.

It was shocking and it threatened to become the defining image of a night when Kansas City unravelled and spurned a chance to make history. Instead, as night closed over Sin City, Kelce was grasping the Vince Lombardi Trophy, chanting Viva Las Vegas.

Because this is a special team led by a special quarterback. One blessed with immense talent and a refusal to die even when nothing is working. When the chips are down, Kansas City looks to Patrick Mahomes. He rarely lets them down.

Not even when his offense malfunctions as it did again here. Not even after San Francisco threatened to strangle the Chiefs in Sin City. Not even after four hours of battle. Time and again, the quarterback hauled his team back into the game. And then, in overtime, he drove them down the field and found Mecole Hardman for the game-winning score.

Moments later, emotion got the better of him too – the quarterback dropped to the floor and lay on his back after leading the Chiefs to a third Super Bowl in five years and back-to-back titles. No team has done that in two decades. This is a dynasty. To think the Chiefs were written off after a regular season of struggle and distraction. The defense held Kansas City together on Sunday – as they have all season. The defense provided a foundation for Mahomes to shine.

What a remarkable end to a remarkable season, decided once again by a truly remarkable player.

How this will hurt for San Francisco. Not for the first time in a Super Bowl against this team, they had glory in their grasp. Not for the first time, they suffered late heartbreak. Their 20-year wait for a title goes on. This one will take some getting over.

Swift touched down in Sin City around 1pm local time. Her journey from a stage in Tokyo to a suite in Las Vegas had included a pit stop in Los Angeles and a dig from Donald Trump. Beyond that, though? Pretty painless.

Vegas was prepared to absorb 330,000 new arrivals – one more wouldn’t be an issue.

Supporters started piling into town nearly a week ago and they were still checking into hotels a few hours before kick-off. By then, blackjack dealers were decked out in football jerseys and The Strip was at logjam.

It was quicker to get around on foot and so thousands of fans spilled out of the casino at the Mandalay Bay, down on to the underpass, out into the beaming sun and up the hill towards Allegiant Stadium.

Lining the way? A few desperate fans hoping to secure the hottest ticket in town – on gameday, the cheapest seat on one resale site cost $9,000 – and Jehovah’s Witnesses because this is Vegas and there’s no bad time for redemption. It was only a short walk from The Strip to the stadium.

Separating the Chiefs and immortality on Sunday morning? One more step. Reid, Mahomes, Kelce and Co set out on this long road – destination: Dynasty – in 2019, when they ended a 50-year wait for a second championship. The victims that day? San Francisco

Shanahan’s players arrived here with vengeance on their mind. They began as slight betting favorites, they had more support in the stands, too. The message from the Chiefs, though, articulated by Chris Jones in a pre-game promo? ‘We ain’t done yet’. Tears streamed down the tackle’s face during the national anthem and then, a few minutes later, the ball fell out of Christian McCaffrey’s hands as Kansas City drew first blood.

Leo Chenal forced an early fumble that handed the Chiefs some early momentum, only for the San Francisco defense to lay down some markers of its own. Chase Young sacked Mahomes; Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Co swarmed all over Kansas City.

It was a sign of things to come: across their first two drives, the defending champions were restricted to 16 yards and a solitary first down. San Francisco had managed more than five times more (84).

But the 49ers still needed a Super Bowl record field goal (55 yards) from Jake Moody to open the score. The Chiefs looked primed to wipe that lead out instantly, after Mahomes’ 52-yard pass found Mecole Hardman and put Kansas City in the red zone.

It was about the first spark of life in the Kansas City offense but Pacheco dropped the ball. And that proved too much for some: Kelce lost it; Swift soon chugged her beer. She ought to have raised a glass a few minutes later, when McCaffrey scored the game’s first touchdown. It was a work of art: Purdy found Jauan Jennings who threw a daring lateral to McCaffrey in space. No one was going to stop him from here.

That score put San Francisco firmly in control but few know better than Shanahan about the fragility of leads in this game. In each of its past two Super Bowl wins – against the 49ers and the Eagles – Kansas City has overturned a 10+ point deficit.

There was little sign of an impending comeback here as the Chiefs’ offense stuttered and Mahomes battled just to keep his head above water. A field goal from Harrison Butker – seconds before half-time – did bring the defending champions within a score before Usher’s 13-minute show gave the Chiefs a bit of extra time to gather themselves.

But it appeared to have made scant difference: Kansas City’s opening drive of the third quarter saw Pacheco drop a hand-off and Mahomes throw his first interception. The only saving grace for Reid? The Chiefs defense was keeping his team in the game: San Francisco’s first three drives of the second half brought a grand total of -2 yards. And with every forced punt, Kansas City bought the offense more chance to click.

Mahomes began doing it himself: the quarterback scrambled for a couple of first downs that gave Butker the chance to bring the Chiefs to within four from 57 yards – breaking Moody’s new record.

But even he couldn’t muster a game-changing moment like the botched punt that took Kansas City into the red zone and, one play later, into the lead.

After the ball inadvertently clipped the foot of Darrell Luter, Ray-Ray McCloud III struggled to gather the loose ball. Kansas City did and one play later, Mahomes found Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone.

That could have crushed San Francisco. Instead the Niners went straight up the other end and, despite being deep in field goal territory, Shanahan chose to go for six. He gambled on fourth down and was repaid when Purdy found Jennings.

The cost of Moody’s failure to add the extra point was laid bare shortly after, when Butker was able to level with a field goal. The mark of Moody’s character came with 1:53 remaining, when his nerveless field goal edged San Francisco in front.

The issue? That left more than enough time for Mahomes to lead Kansas City back down the field. At the end of it all, with six seconds on the clock, the quarterback threw towards Kelce in the end zone. Incomplete. Field goal. Overtime.

The 49ers opted to take the ball and they were handed a lifeline when a penalty prevented them from having to punt. At the second time of asking, more McCaffrey brilliance carried San Francisco down the field before Moody kicked a field goal.

At that point, the formula for Kansas City was simple: a touchdown and they were Super Bowl champions once more. Twice Mahomes faced third down. Twice he made the play. Then, in the red zone, he found his man.