Meghan Markle and Prince Harry claim they were involved in a paparazzi car chase in New York City that could have been fatal. The incident, which they described as a “near catastrophic car chase,” mirrors the way Princess Diana, Harry’s late mother, died.
The couple attended the Ms. Foundation Woman of Vision Awards in New York City on May 16, where the Duchess of Sussex was presented with the 2023 Woman of Vision Award by Gloria Steinem, The Associated Press reported.
The evening got intense as Meghan, her husband, and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, claim they were followed by photographers for “over two hours,” resulting in “multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road,” according to a spokesperson for the royal couple.
In a failed attempt to fool the paparazzi, Meghan and Harry got into their rented Hertz black SUV and switched to a yellow New York taxi to blend in with normal traffic. When their incognito effort failed, Meghan and Harry were then escorted out of Times Square by the NYPD’s Secret Service detail, which protects high-profile celebrities.
“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 spokeperson said in a public statement. “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”
However, those familiar with Times Square, or Manhattan in general, would know that it is virtually impossible to engage in a car chase because the streets are narrow and congested, making it difficult for cars to chase each other, let alone for two hours. In addition, there are many pedestrians and bicyclists on the streets, making it dangerous to drive at high speeds.
When NBC asked the NYPD for comment on the alleged Manhattan chase, law enforcement sources downplayed the “near catastrophic” characterization, saying it was “a bit chaotic.”
The photography agency that employed the photographers came out with a statement on May 17, The New York Daily News reported.
“According to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes,” Backgrid USA Inc., the agency that hired the photographers, said in a statement. “The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”
The cab driver who drove Meghan and Harry, Sukhcharn Singh, indicate to AP the paparazzi followed, but it was an overal good experience for him.
“They were following us the whole time,” he said. “It was pretty good man. They gave me a $50. I mean, when I’m going around the block that’s more than enough.”
In 1997, Princess Diana passed away in a car accident while being chased by paparazzi in Paris.
As highlighted in his Netflix special, her death still haunts him as the paparazzi invade his privacy.
