Prince Harry And Meghan Involved In “Near Catastrophic” Two-Hour Car Chase With Paparazzi Across Manhattan
According to a spokesperson for the couple, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, were embroiled in a “near catastrophic” car chase with paparazzi in New York City on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred after the couple attended the Ms. Foundation for Women’s awards ceremony in New York, where Meghan was honoured for her work.
The couple claimed they were pursued in Midtown Manhattan by “a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi” in half a dozen cars with blacked-out windows, driving dangerously and putting the lives of the couple and Doria Ragland in danger. However, police reported that there were no collisions, injuries, or arrests.
“There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination, and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests,” an NYPD spokesperson said.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Harry has frequently mentioned how the paparazzi harassed his mother, Princess Diana, and he holds them responsible for her death. She perished in a car accident in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.
The couple’s spokesperson stated that the chase on Tuesday could have been fatal, as paparazzi were driving on the sidewalk, running red lights, and taking photographs while driving.
The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has criticised the paparazzi for their “near catastrophic” high-speed pursuit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, deeming it irresponsible and hazardous.
Mayor Adams commented on the incident during a public safety announcement about retail larceny on Wednesday morning, describing it as particularly reckless in New York City due to its dense population and heavy traffic. In addition to Harry, Meghan, and innocent bystanders, Adams was particularly enraged that two NYPD officers could have been injured.
The mayor added, “It’s clear that the press, paparazzi, they want to get the right shot, they want to get the right story, but public safety must always be at the forefront.”
He stated that he would receive a detailed briefing later, but he found it hard to believe that a two-hour high-speed pursuit had occurred.
“If it’s 10 minutes, a 10-minute chase is extremely dangerous in New York City,” Adams said.
