Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (2024)

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (1)

Prince Harry and Meghan blame paparazzi for ‘near catastrophic’ car chase

1 year ago

Duration 2:51

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, claim paparazzi in New York City subjected them to a two-hour car chase that could have ended in a catastrophic crash, after they left a public event with Markle’s mother.

Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan, and her mother were involved in a "near-catastrophic car chase" involving paparazzi photographers after they attended an awards ceremony in New York, a spokesperson for the prince said on Wednesday.

The incident involved "a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi" in half a dozen cars with blacked-out windowsdriving dangerously and putting the lives of the couple and Meghan's mother,Doria Ragland, in danger.

"Last night, the Duke and duch*ess of Sussex and Ms.Ragland were involved in a near-catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPDofficers," the spokesperson said in a statement, which noted that the Duke and duch*ess of Sussex were shaken by the incident but otherwise unharmed.

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The New York Police Department, which said it had assisted the private security team protecting the couple, made the incident sound less serious.

"There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging," Julian Phillips, the NYPD's chief spokesperson, said in a statement. "The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries or arrests in regard."

WATCH | Taxi driver tells CBC News aboutride with royal couple:

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (2)

Taxi driver who briefly drove Harry and Meghan wasn't nervous

1 year ago

Duration 4:54

Taxi driver Sunny Singh told CBC News there was paparazzi following his cab while he was briefly driving Harry and Meghan in New York City Tuesday but, while they were nervous, he was not. "Their experience can be different than mine," he said.

Couple 'pretty nervous,' says taxi driver

Taxi driver Sunny Singh told CBC News's Andrew Nichols that he was flagged down on the street during his shift and suddenly Harry and Meghan were getting into his cab.

"They seemed pretty nervous," he said. "As we went, like, a block away, all of a sudden, paparazzi came out of nowhere and started taking pictures."

Singh saidhe drove the group around for about 10 minutes before returning to the police stationfrom where he'd picked them up, at the request of a security guard.

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"As we were circling back, there were two cars just following us. I don't want to say chase — following us," Singh said. "You know, their experience can be different than mine because I drive in New York traffic, right? New York is known for chaos, right? So their experience can be different than mine."

Singh said the photographers kept their distance while he was driving.

"They weren't right on top of us or trying to come to the side and stuff like that."

Pictures that have since appeared on social media show Harry, Meghan and her mother sitting in the back of a New York City taxi, which their spokesperson said showed "a small glimpse at the defence and decoys required to end the harassment."

Media reported the couple had switched to the taxi to try toshake the photographers after they werepursued in the car they'd taken from the Ziegfeld Ballroom.

WATCH | What weknown aboutpaparazzi pursuit of Duke & duch*ess of Sussex:

Paparazzi drove on sidewalk, spokesperson says

The prince has long spoken out about his anger about press intrusion, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in 1997 when the car she was riding in crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi in Paris.

The couple's spokesperson said the chase that took place after they leftthe Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan on Tuesdaycould also have been fatal and involved paparazzi driving on the sidewalk, running red lightsand driving while taking pictures.

Those involved in the chase were confronted by police officers multiple times, according to the spokesperson.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (3)

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he had received a briefing that two NYPD officers could have been injured in the incident.

"I don't think there's many of us who don't recall how, how his mom died," Adams told reporters. "And it would be horrific to lose an innocent bystander during a chase like this and something to have happened to them as well."

He said he would be given an in-depth briefing later, but that he found it hard to believe there would have been a two-hour high-speed chase.

WATCH |NYC mayor questions details of 'reckless' chase:

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (4)

NYC mayor questions details of 'reckless' car chase with Prince Harry and Meghan

1 year ago

Duration 1:38

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says his city isn't like small-town traffic, and speeding anywhere in it is dangerous because of its dense population. He also questioned the validity of claims that Harry and Meghan were in a high-speed car chase for two hours.

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"If it's 10 minutes, a 10-minute chase is extremely dangerous in New York City," Adams said.

The Ms. Foundation for Women, the organizers of the awards ceremony where Meghan was honoured for her work, said it was horrified by the episode.

"Everyone, especially the media, must do better," the statement said.

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Buckingham Palace had no comment.

The couple, who live in California with their two young children, had been staying at a private residence but had decided against returning there as they did not wish to compromise that individual's safety, according to their spokesperson.

WATCH | U.S.paparazzi operate under different rules than in U.K.:

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (5)

Prince Harry’s trouble with tabloids highlighted by car chase claims

1 year ago

Duration 1:55

Dogged by the British press since childhood, Prince Harry moved to the U.S. partly to escape them. But while the royals seem to have found a way to live with the U.K. media, the American paparazzi operate under different rules.

In his memoir Spare,the couple's Netflix documentary series and TV interviews, Prince Harry has railed against British tabloids invading his and his family's privacy, and it was one of the main reasons that he and Meghan gave for stepping down from their royal roles in 2020 and moving to the United States.

The prince is currently involved in numerous court cases in London where he has accused papers of using unlawful methods to target him and his family.While papers reject nearly all his allegations, one publisher last week apologized for unlawfully seeking information about him in 2004.

He is also seeking to overturn a decision by the British government to take away his specialist police protection when he is in Britain.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi car chase: spokesperson | CBC News (2024)

FAQs

Did the paparazzi chasing Harry and Meghan? ›

After leaving the gala, held at Ziegfeld Ballroom, the Sussexes and Ragland were pursued by paparazzi. At the time of the incident, a spokesperson for the Sussexes accused paparazzi of being "highly aggressive" and driving on the sidewalk and running red lights during a two-hour "relentless pursuit" of the famous pair.

Were the royals in the near fatal car chase? ›

Prince Harry and Meghan say they were in a 'near catastrophic car chase' with paparazzi; the NYPD is more muted. The incident happened after the couple attended an awards ceremony Tuesday in Manhattan. Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, also attended the event.

Were the Duke and duch*ess of Sussex involved in a near catastrophic car chase? ›

"Last night, The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi. "This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.

What is the near catastrophic chase with paparazzi? ›

Prince Harry and Meghan blame paparazzi for 'near catastrophic' car chase. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, claim paparazzi in New York City subjected them to a two-hour car chase that could have ended in a catastrophic crash, after they left a public event with Markle's mother.

Was Harry and Meghan's car chase a publicity stunt? ›

“Respectfully, considering the Duke's family history, one would have to think nothing of the couple or anybody associated with them to believe this was any sort of PR stunt,” Ashley Hansen, a spokesperson for the Sussexes, told The New York Times in an article published Friday, May 19.

What did Harry say about Car Chase? ›

He said they were "nice people" who "looked nervous". He thought claims of a "near catastrophic chase" might have been exaggerated, saying that he did not think the paparazzi were being "aggressive".

Where did Harry and Meghan get chased? ›

Singh said he picked the group up at around 11 p.m. outside the NYPD's 19th Precinct on East 67th Street. He said he got the impression that they had already been chased by photographers, and they were followed by two vehicles as he was driving: a black Honda Accord and a gray Honda CR-V.

Do the royals drive their own cars? ›

King Charles and his family often drive their own cars

As part of the "royal prerogative" – powers and rights that the sovereign alone possesses – His Majesty is the only person in the UK who can drive without a licence, even though driving licences are issued in his name.

What's happening with Harry and Meghan? ›

Harry uprooted his life in the UK to leave and start a new life in the USA with Meghan. The change meant not only leaving behind his family and quitting life as a working Royal, but also leaving behind a lifetime of friendships forged in varying situations.

Was Meghan Markle involved in a car crash? ›

Was Prince Harry in a car accident? No, Prince Harry and Meghan were not in a car crash or accident. Neither was harmed, according to police. "The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard," Phillips said.

Who in the royal family died in a car accident? ›

Princess Diana died from extensive injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. The princess was in Paris with Al Fayed when the paparazzi followed the car she was traveling in, hoping to get a photo of the couple.

What happened to the first Duke of Sussex? ›

The Duke of Sussex died, aged 70 of erysipelas, at Kensington Palace in 1843. In his will he specified that he was not to have a state funeral and was accordingly buried at Kensal Green Cemetery on 4 May 1843. He is buried in front of the main chapel, immediately opposite the tomb of his sister Princess Sophia.

Did paparazzi chase Princess Diana? ›

Paparazzi photographers, Romuald Rat, Serge Arnal, Jacques Langevin, Nikola Arsov, Laslo Veres, Christian Martinez and Stephane Darmon were Paparazzi who chased Diana the night of her car crash. They were charged with manslaughter but later cleared of these charges.

Did Meghan Markle hire paparazzi? ›

Meghan Markle is purportedly facing accusations of remunerating Paparazzi to surveil her and Prince Harry. Indeed, the individuals that she previously accused of encroaching into her personal space are now seemingly employed by her.

Did Netflix pay Harry and Meghan? ›

Topline. Netflix is working with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's company Archewell to produce two new non-fiction shows, the streamer confirmed to Forbes on Thursday, marking the fourth and fifth series to come out of a $100 million deal between Netflix and the royal couple.

What was Backgrid's response to Harry and Meghan? ›

Backgrid USA told CNN on Friday that it had responded to a letter from the Sussexes' legal team, saying the copyrighted material belonged to the agency and the couple have no rights to it. CNN has not seen the letter referred to by Backgrid.

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