Harry, Meghan accuse paparazzi of ‘near catastrophic’ car chase
Prince Harry, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and her mother, Doria Ragland, were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase that included paparazzi, according to their spokesperson.
In a Wednesday statement, a spokesperson for the couple said the Tuesday night “car chase” came “at the hands of a run 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 [New York Police Department] officers.”
While the pair, who were married in 2018, each understand that “being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public,” the statement said, “it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety.”
The spokesperson also condemned the dissemination of any photographs involving the alleged incident, saying it would only encourage “a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved.”
The alleged incident involved six blacked-out vehicles and included traffic violations such as driving on the sidewalk, running red lights, reversing down a one-way street and blocking a moving vehicle, according to a source close to the couple. ITK hears from the same source that footage captured of the incident supports Harry and Meghan’s account and timeline.
In a statement, the NYPD said it had “assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
“There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard,” a department spokesperson said.
Meghan was in New York Tuesday to accept an honor called the Women of Vision Award.
Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in 1997, when he was 12.
A 2006 investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police found that Diana’s driver was intoxicated and trying to evade paparazzi photographers before the crash.
—Updated at 1:18 p.m.
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