Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland found themselves caught in a harrowing car chase with paparazzi in New York City. The incident was described as "near catastrophic" according to a statement from Harry's spokesperson on Wednesday.
The spokesperson revealed a group of "highly aggressive paparazzi" in several vehicles with blacked-out windows pursued the couple and Ragland, putting their lives at risk through dangerous driving.
The "relentless pursuit" lasted for "over two hours" and resulted in "multiple near collisions" involving other motorists, pedestrians and even two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers, the spokesperson said.
While the couple, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were shaken by the ordeal they emerged unharmed.
However, the NYPD downplayed the severity of the incident, stating numerous photographers made transportation "challenging" but no "collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests" were reported upon their arrival at their destination.
Taxi driver Sukhcharn Singh who had driven the royals and a security guard, shared his perspective, stating he did not consider it a chase. Singh mentioned two vehicles followed closely, capturing pictures and videos, but he never felt endangered.
He remarked although the couple appeared scared, New York City was generally a "safe" place.
Social media posts depicted Harry, Meghan and Ragland sitting in the back of a New York taxi which their spokesperson explained provided a glimpse of the measures taken to combat the harassment they face. Reports indicated the couple switched to the taxi in an attempt to lose the pursuing photographers after leaving the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan.
Many were unnerved by the news.
Prince Harry has long been vocal about his anger towards press intrusion.
He holds the tabloid press and paparazzi responsible for the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. The Prince has also stated the press was a driving factor in his decision to move his family out of the UK and to step back from the royal family.
The spokesperson emphasized Tuesday's chase could have had fatal consequences, with paparazzi driving on sidewalks, running red lights, and operating vehicles while taking pictures. The spokesperson noted the police had intervened on multiple occasions to confront those involved.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was briefed on the situation, revealing two NYPD officers could have been injured. Adams expressed his reluctance to see a repeat of the tragic events that claimed Princess Diana's life and stressed the potential danger such chases pose to innocent individuals.
