Prince Harry Almost Killed By Chasing Paparazzi
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pursued by paparazzi for nearly two hours in New York City, nearly causing awful crashes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” after being pursued by aggressive paparazzi in New York City. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed the incident in a statement to People. “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD 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,” Prince Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson continued. The couple’s representative also said, “Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved.”
Prince Harry, his wife, and mother-in-law, Doria Ragland, were heading back to a friend’s private residence when photographers gave chase. The couple, determined to keep their location a secret, were followed by a group of paparazzi in six blacked-out vehicles. They allegedly engaged in reckless behavior, like running red lights to take pictures of the couple.
The paparazzi continued their pursuit despite being confronted by uniformed police officers. The New York Police Department released a statement regarding the transportation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, saying police officers assisted the private security team tasked with protecting the couple. However, there were no collisions, injuries, or arrests reported.
The ordeal followed the Ms. Foundation 2023 Women of Vision Awards: Celebrating Generations of Progress & Power event at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. Meghan Markle, accompanied by Prince Harry and her mother, was recognized for her dedication to empowering women and girls. The couple was captured in photographs as they arrived and left the venue.
Pictures that appeared on social media have shown Prince Harry, Meghan, and Ms. Ragland in a taxi. However, two New York police officials have played down the car chase, saying they do not believe it was “near catastrophic.” Instead, they described the incident as a “bit of a chaotic scene.”
The car chase comes after a man was arrested outside the couple’s home for allegedly stalking them.
Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997. The tragic incident involved photographers pursuing her vehicle. David Douglas, a senior police officer who was part of the Operation Paget investigation launched by the British Metropolitan Police in 2004, described her death as a “terrible, tragic accident.”
Prince Harry recounted driving through the same Paris tunnel where his mother died in his memoir Spare. He was just 12 years old at the time and was on his way to the 2007 Rugby World Cup semifinal in the French city.
Meanwhile, the Royal Courts of Justice in London held a renewal hearing into The Duke of Sussex v. The Home Office. Prince Harry’s case against the U.K. government regards the removal of his security following the couple’s decision to step down from their royal roles.
Prince Harry was last seen at his father, King Charles III’s coronation. He boarded a flight shortly after the event was over.
