Prince Harry and Meghan Markle grabbed international attention when they claimed to have been involved in a highly distressing incident described as a “near catastrophic car chase.” The incident unfolded after Meghan received a Woman of Vision award at the Ms. Foundation for Women’s annual gala. Video footage captured their unusual arrival at the event, which has since circulated widely.
A spokesperson issued a statement recounting the events, stating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Ms. Ragland, were pursued by an aggressive group of paparazzi.
This relentless pursuit lasted over two hours and led to several close encounters with other vehicles, pedestrians, and even two NYPD officers. The spokesperson emphasized that while public figures attract public interest, the safety of individuals should never be compromised.
Reports indicate that the pursuers violated multiple traffic regulations during the chase, including running red lights, driving on the sidewalk, using mobile phones while driving, taking photographs while driving, and unlawfully obstructing a moving vehicle.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that the Sussexes’ vehicle circled the venue for about an hour in an unsuccessful attempt to evade the paparazzi. They then proceeded to the New York Police Department’s 19th precinct police station, where they changed vehicles in another effort to escape the pursuers.
In an act of concern for their safety, the Sussexes’ security guard hailed a taxi driven by Sukhcharn ‘Sonny’ Singh. Meghan and Harry’s security team requested Singh to drive them back to the police station, fearing that revealing their new location could pose further risks. Singh, when interviewed by the Washington Post, mentioned that he did not consider it a chase and felt safe throughout the incident, adding that New York City is generally a safe place.
The photo agency involved in the situation, Backgrid, also issued a statement clarifying its perspective. They confirmed receiving photos and videos from four freelance contributors, three in cars and one on a bicycle, who was covering the couple’s visit to New York City.
The agency stated that their contributors had no intention of causing distress or harm, as their sole purpose was to capture images. They emphasized that some photos even showed Meghan Markle smiling inside a cab.
According to the accounts provided by the photographers, one of the four SUVs from Prince Harry’s security escort was driving in a manner that could be interpreted as reckless. Witnesses observed the vehicle blocking streets, and in one video, it was seen being pulled over by the police.
The agency acknowledged the security detail’s job and expressed respect for their work. However, they emphasized that, based on the photographers’ experiences, there were no near-collisions or close calls during the incident. The photographers did not perceive an immediate danger to the couple at any point.
During a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams mentioned being informed that two officers may have been at risk of injury. While Mayor Adams found it difficult to believe in a two-hour high-speed chase, he emphasized that even a 10-minute incident could be extremely dangerous. He stressed the importance of prioritizing public safety and noted that New York City’s dense population, traffic, and pedestrian activity necessitate heightened caution.