Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in ‘Near Catastrophic Car Chase’ With Paparazzi
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi” in New York City yesterday.
The couple’s spokesperson says the pair and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland were followed for more than two hours by half a dozen vehicles of photographers after leaving a charity event in New York on Tuesday.
The couple was in New York City on Tuesday night for the Ms. Foundation for Women’s annual gala at which Markle accepted the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Award — their first public appearance since King Charles’ coronation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave the Women of Vision Gala @anadoluagency pic.twitter.com/SAL8cBYbMz
— L. Vural Elibol (@vuralelibol) May 17, 2023
The paparazzi pursued their car, running red lights, reversing down a one-way street, driving on the sidewalk, driving while on the phone, and taking photographs in their attempts to get shots of Harry, Markle, and Ragland.
“Last night, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” the couple’s spokesperson says in a statement to People today.
“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.
“While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety.”
Harry’s and Meghan’s spokesperson also criticized the spread of such photographs of the couple in the media.
“Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved.”
Photos that have surfaced on social media have shown Harry, Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, in a car leaving the event. The prince is seen filming the paparazzi on his smartphone as they drive off.
I smell a set up by THEM, like Jussie Smollett LOOK at Harry taking a pic & Meghan smiling while being chased "by paps" for (get this) 2 hrs, come on!
Harry, Meghan Markle Followed by Paparazzi in Wild, 2-Hour Chase https://t.co/ZIyikbEU7d via @TMZ pic.twitter.com/vxq4IGojgc
— Paula Feese 🐾💅🏼👠🧶☕️ (@PaulaFeese) May 17, 2023
According to The New York Times, the New York Police Department said it did not have a report of a car chase involving the prince and Meghan in the area, and there were no reports of any injuries or a crash. There were no immediate details about the incident.
Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a 1997 car crash in Paris that also involved photographers pursuing her vehicle.
In an interview earlier this year, Harry shared how he discovered a group of photographers taking pictures of his mother’s death after he viewed photos of the crash scene where Diana died.
Update 5/17: Information on the New York Police Department’s statement added.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
