In an incident that unfolded yesterday in New York City, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, found themselves at the center of attention, prompting the NYPD to respond to claims of a “near catastrophic car chase” involving paparazzi.
During their visit to the city, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were under the watchful eye of NYPD officers, as confirmed by Julian Phillips, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner Public Information Officer. Phillips reassured The Daily Wire that no reports of collisions or injuries were made during the transportation of the royal couple.
In an official statement, the NYPD clarified, “On Tuesday evening, May 16, the NYPD provided assistance to the private security team responsible for ensuring the safety of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” While acknowledging the challenges posed by numerous photographers, the statement emphasized that there were no recorded incidents of traffic accidents, summonses, injuries, or arrests along the route taken by the royal couple.
Responding to reports of a “near-catastrophic car chase,” a representative for Prince Harry shared a statement with Deadline, shedding light on the alleged incident. According to the representative, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Ms. Ragland, found themselves pursued relentlessly by an aggressive group of paparazzi for over two hours. The statement revealed that this pursuit resulted in several close-call collisions involving other motorists, pedestrians, and even two NYPD officers.
While recognizing the attention that accompanies their status as public figures, the statement emphasized that such attention should never jeopardize the safety and security of individuals involved.
Prince Harry has been deeply affected by the tragic loss of his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in Paris back in 1997. He, along with others, has attributed partial blame to the paparazzi for the accident. In a 2017 BBC program, Harry spoke about the difficulties of coming to terms with the fact that those who chased his mother into the tunnel were the same individuals who were photographing her while she fought for her life in the back seat of the car, suffering from severe head injuries.