According to a spokesperson for Harry, they were involved in a harrowing car chase with a group of highly aggressive paparazzi. The incident, described as "near catastrophic," saw several cars with blacked-out windows dangerously pursuing them, posing a threat to the lives of the couple and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
The spokesperson revealed that this relentless pursuit lasted over two hours, resulting in several close calls with other drivers, pedestrians, and even two NYPD officers. Fortunately, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex emerged from the incident shaken but physically unharmed.
However, the seriousness of the situation was downplayed by the NYPD, stating that there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests upon the couple's arrival at their destination.
In a statement, Julian Phillips, the chief spokesperson for the NYPD, acknowledged the challenging transportation circumstances caused by numerous photographers. Contrary to the couple's account, he portrayed the incident as less severe, emphasizing that they reached their destination without any notable incidents.
The couple's taxi driver, Sukhcharn Singh, supported the NYPD's perspective, stating that he didn't consider it a chase. Singh mentioned that two vehicles followed them closely, taking pictures and filming, but he never felt endangered during the ride. Singh added that although the couple appeared frightened, he reassured them that New York is generally a safe city.
Social media posts revealed images of Prince Harry, Meghan, and Doria Ragland seated in the back of a New York taxi. The couple's spokesperson explained that these images provided a glimpse into the defensive measures and decoys they employed to evade harassment. Reports indicated that the couple switched to the taxi in an attempt to shake off the pursuing photographers after leaving the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan.
The prince's frustration with press intrusion is longstanding, attributing it to his mother's tragic death. Princess Diana was killed in 1997 when her limousine crashed while trying to escape paparazzi in Paris. The spokesperson for Harry and Meghan emphasized that the chase they experienced in New York on Tuesday could have resulted in a similar tragedy.
The paparazzi involved in the incident drove on sidewalks, ran red lights, and took pictures while driving. According to the spokesperson, the paparazzi were repeatedly confronted by police officers throughout the ordeal. Chris Sanchez, a member of the couple's security team, expressed concern that members of the public could have been harmed, describing the situation as chaotic, involving a dozen vehicles ranging from cars to scooters and bicycles.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams mentioned receiving a briefing indicating that two NYPD officers might have been injured during the incident. He expressed his apprehension, stating that the memory of Princess Diana's tragic fate was still fresh in people's minds. Mayor Adams found it difficult to believe that a high-speed chase lasting two hours could have taken place. He stressed the danger posed by a 10-minute chase in the bustling city of New York.
The Ms. Foundation for Women, the organization behind the awards ceremony where Meghan was honored, expressed horror at the episode and called for better conduct, particularly from the media. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter. As for the couple, who currently reside in California with their two young children, they decided not to return to their private residence in order to ensure the safety of their host, as revealed by their spokesperson. Prince Harry's aversion to the press has been apparent for years, fueled by the treatment his mother endured and his own personal experiences, especially during his youth.
Prince Harry has been vocal about his concerns regarding the intrusion of British tabloid newspapers into his and his family's private lives. These concerns were one of the primary factors that led him and Meghan to step down from their royal duties in 2020 and relocate to the United States. In his memoir, titled "Spare," as well as in their Netflix documentary series and various television interviews, he has expressed his discontent with the invasion of privacy they experienced.
At present, the prince is actively engaged in multiple legal battles in London, where he accuses several newspapers of employing unlawful methods to target both himself and his family. While the newspapers in question tend to deny most, if not all, of his allegations, one publisher recently issued an apology for unlawfully seeking information about him back in 2004. Additionally, Prince Harry is seeking to challenge the British government's decision to withdraw his specialized police protection while he is in the United Kingdom.
