Harry and Meghan – latest: Paparazzi blame car chase on couple’s ‘reckless’ driver

Paparazzi involved in an alleged car chase involving Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle in New York City on Tuesday evening have blamed the incident on the couple’s “reckless” driver.

Backgrid USA Inc assigned four photographers to the Ms. Foundation gala on Tuesday night, where the Duchess of Sussex received a “Women of Vision” award.

The company said: “One of the four SUVs from Prince Harry’s security escort was driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless.

“The vehicle was seen blocking off streets, and in one video, it is shown being pulled over by the police.”

Three photographers hired by the agency followed the couple in cars after they left the gala, while one pedalled after them on his bicycle.

“According to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes,” the agency continued. The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”

The company said it is conducting a “thorough investigation into the matter.”

The statement continued: “At Backgrid USA Inc., we do not condone any form of harassment or illegal activity. We are taking Prince Harry’s allegations seriously.”

Key Points

• Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic car chase’ involving paparazzi

• New York Police Department (NYPD) full statement

• Royal fans claim paparazzi ‘learned nothing from Diana’ after Meghan and Harry involved in car chase

• Opinion: Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

• Harry and Meghan’s full statement

• NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase

Paparazzi blame car chase on couple’s ‘reckless’ driver

15:20 , Martha Mchardy

Paparazzi involved in an alleged car chase involving Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle in New York City on Tuesday evening have blamed the incident on the couple’s “reckless” driver.

Backgrid USA Inc assigned four photographers to the Ms. Foundation gala on Tuesday night, where the Duchess of Sussex received a “Women of Vision” award.

The company said: “One of the four SUVs from Prince Harry’s security escort was driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless.

“The vehicle was seen blocking off streets, and in one video, it is shown being pulled over by the police.”

Three photographers hired by the agency followed the couple in cars after they left the gala, while one pedalled after them on his bicycle.

“According to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes,” the agency continued. The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”

The company said it is conducting a “thorough investigation into the matter.”

The statement continued: “At Backgrid USA Inc., we do not condone any form of harassment or illegal activity. We are taking Prince Harry’s allegations seriously.”

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said on Wednesday: “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.”

Voices: Heckled and harried hours before, Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

20:30 , Emily Atkinson

Again and again, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has fought to defang a rampaging media that he believes is insatiable. Again and again he has been mocked, derided and ignored, writes Samuel Fishwick.

Today, if his spokesperson is to be believed, the prince and his wife the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, were involved in an incident with shocking echoes of the tragic car accident that killed his mother Diana in 1997.

Opinion: Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

Who is Meghan Markle’s mother? Everything to know about Doria Ragland

19:30 , Emily Atkinson

Over the years, Meghan Markle has been very vocal about her close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland.

On Tuesday, 16 May, the pair were accompanied by Prince Harry as they made their way to Manhattan to attend a charity awards ceremony by the Ms. Foundation for Women, where Meghan was honoured for her work. The royal couple have now claimed that when they left the event, they were followed by the paparazzi for more than two hours.

“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,” a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement released on 17 May.

Amber Raiken has more:

What to know about Doria Ragland amid paparazzi car chase?

Prince Harry’s ex-bodyguard says current security ‘unaware of dilemmas’

18:30 , Emily Atkinson

The Duke of Sussex’s former bodyguard has said his current security team lack experience, following a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were followed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with the duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, on Tuesday, the couple’s spokesman said.

There are claims they were subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving six blacked-out vehicles driving recklessly and endangering the convoy and everyone around them.

Ken Wharfe, who used to take Harry to school when he was three years old, said his current security were “unaware of what the dilemmas seem to be”.

The former bodyguard told the PA news agency: “There seems to be a lack of chemistry between them and Harry and Meghan.

“The departure from the hotel was chaotic before they began their whacky drive through New York.

“Harry needs to be part of the planning. He knows the dangers better than anyone.

“You (need) a relationship with the people you are protecting. Until that happens things like this will happen again.”

It is said those involved in the incident were confronted by uniformed police several times but continued the pursuit.

It is also said there is security footage and other evidence to support the allegations.

Mr Wharfe added: “There seemed to be no planning happening on that night.

Harry and Meghan paparazzi claim royals ‘not in danger’ during ‘chase’

17:29 , Emily Atkinson

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “not in immediate danger at any point” during an alleged two-hour paparazzi car chase that they believed could have been fatal, it has been claimed.

Harry claimed that he and Meghan were subjected to a “near catastrophic” pursuit by photographers after leaving the Ms. Foundation gala in New York with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, on Tuesday night.

But Backgrid USA Inc, the agency that hired four freelance photographers to cover the event, instead insisted that one of the four SUVs escorting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in New York was “driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless”.

Oliver Pritchard-Jones reports:

Harry and Meghan paparazzi insist royals ‘not in danger’ during ‘chase’

A timeline of Harry and Meghan’s ‘two-hour car chase’ in New York

16:34 , Emily Atkinson

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Raglandwere trailed in their car by paparazzi for over two hours after they left a New York City charity event on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for the royals claimed that they had been pursued by paparazzi in a “near catastrophic car chase“ through the streets of Manhattan.

“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,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Here is Alisha Rahaman Sarkar with a timeline of the events:

Timeline of Harry and Meghan’s ‘two-hour car chase’ in New York

Prince Harry’s current security ‘unaware of dilemmas’, says former bodyguard

15:30 , Martha Mchardy

The Duke of Sussex’s former bodyguard has said his current security team lack experience, following a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were followed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with the duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, on Tuesday, the couple’s spokesman said.

There are claims they were subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving six blacked-out vehicles driving recklessly and endangering the convoy and everyone around them.

Ken Wharfe, who used to take Harry to school when he was three years old, said his current security were “unaware of what the dilemmas seem to be”.

The former bodyguard told the PA news agency: “There seems to be a lack of chemistry between them and Harry and Meghan.

“The departure from the hotel was chaotic before they began their whacky drive through New York.

“Harry needs to be part of the planning. He knows the dangers better than anyone.

“You (need) a relationship with the people you are protecting. Until that happens things like this will happen again.”

It is said those involved in the incident were confronted by uniformed police several times but continued the pursuit.

It is also said there is security footage and other evidence to support the allegations.

Mr Wharfe added: “There seemed to be no planning happening on that night.

Watch: Paparazzi driver says Harry and Meghan car chase caused by couple’s driver

14:30 , Martha Mchardy

Royal fans claim paparazzi ‘learned nothing from Diana’ after Meghan and Harry involved in car chase

14:00 , Martha Mchardy

Royal fans have expressed their concerns that paparazzi photographers “learned nothing from Diana” after Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland were reportedly “involved in a near catastrophic car chase” with paparazzi.

On social media, the news of the incident has been met with horror, with many suggesting the paparazzi’s alleged pursuit of Harry, Meghan and the duchess’s mother resembled the circumstances surrounding Diana’s tragic death.

Chelsea Ritschel reports:

Royal fans claim paparazzi have ‘learned nothing from Diana’

Watch: Harry and Meghan arrive at New York event before 'near-catastrophic' car chase

13:30 , Martha Mchardy

ICYMI: Prince Harry’s comments about ‘history repeating itself’ resurface after car chase

13:00 , Martha Mchardy

In the five-episode docuseries The Me You Can’t See, which was released on Apple TV+ in May 2021, Prince Harry compared his mother being “chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone that wasn’t white” to his relationship with Meghan Markle.

While speaking to Oprah Winfrey, the duke explained that one of the main reasons he and Meghan decided to leave the UK was the constant harassment by the media, which frequently published stories about the duchess, who is half Black, with racially charged undertones.

“Do I have any regrets? Yeah, my biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in my relationship with my wife and calling out the racism when I did,” he said.

Harry then compared his relationship with Meghan to that of his mother’s with Dodi Al Fayed, revealing that he felt “history was repeating itself” as his mother was also targeted by the paparazzi for dating someone that “wasn’t white”.

“History was repeating itself. My mother was chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone that wasn’t white. And now look at what’s happened. You wanna talk about history repeating itself, they’re not gonna stop until she dies,” he said.

“It’s incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life,” Harry continued. “The list is growing. And it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry. Because my father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I: ‘Well it was like that for me so it’s gonna be like that for you.’”

The duke – who shares four-year-old son Prince Archie and one-year-old daughter Lilibet Diana with Meghan – went on to say how his father’s mindset “doesn’t make sense” to him.

“Just because you suffered, that doesn’t mean that your kids have to suffer,” Harry said. “In fact quite the opposite, if you’ve suffered, do whatever you can to make sure that whatever experiences, negative experiences you had, that you can make it right for your kids.”

Despite his wife’s mental health struggles – Meghan has previously admitted to experiencing suicidal thoughts during her time in the royal family – Harry also said that his family initially denied their requests to step away from their roles as working royals, noting that “there was no option to leave”.

He said: “Eventually when I made that decision for my family, I was still told you can’t do this. And it’s like: ‘Well how bad does it have to get until I am allowed to do this?’

“She was going to end her life. It shouldn’t have to get to that.”

Duke of Sussex’s comments about parallels between his mother’s death and his wife resurface following car chase

12:30 , Martha Mchardy

During an ITV interview with Tom Bradby last January, Prince Harry narrated an excerpt from his book that recounted the night his father, King Charles III, told him his mother had died. “You know, my father coming in, in his dressing gown and sharing that news with me, only now as part of writing the book, that I really think about how many hours he’d been awake,” the duke said, adding he had “compassion” for Charles having to “break this to my two sons”.

Harry added that was part of the reason “why we are here now”.

“I never want to be in that position. I don’t want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don’t want my children to have a life without a mother or a father.”

Duke of Sussex’s comments about Diana crash resurface after ‘near-miss’

11:54 , Martha Mchardy

Prince Harry’s fears of “history repeating itself” have resurfaced after the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase in New York City.

The Duke of Sussex has long spoken out against aggressive press intrusion, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a high-speed chase in 1997 after trying to flee paparazzi through a tunnel in Paris.

Prince Harry first compared the media’s treatment of his mother to his wife Meghan during the couple’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. “My biggest fear was history repeating itself,” he said during the interview.

“I’m just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her [Diana] going through this process by herself all those years ago.”

During an ITV interview with Tom Bradby last January, Prince Harry said: “I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don’t want my children to have a life without a mother or a father.”

In the five-episode docuseries The Me You Can’t See, which was released on Apple TV+ in May 2021, Prince Harry compared his mother being “chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone that wasn’t white” to his relationship with Meghan Markle.

“It’s incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life,” Prince Harry said. “The list is growing. And it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry. Because my father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I: ‘Well it was like that for me so it’s gonna be like that for you.’”

Meredith Clark reports:

Prince Harry’s fears about ‘history repeating itself’ resurface amid car chase

What happened to Harry and Meghan? A timeline of Sussexes’ ‘two-hour car chase’ in New York

11:00 , Martha Mchardy

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland were trailed in their car by paparazzi for over two hours after they left a New York City charity event on Tuesday night.

Here is the timeline of the events.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Timeline of Harry and Meghan’s ‘two-hour car chase’ in New York

Prince Harry’s security ‘should have been properly stage managed’, says Diana’s former bodyguard

10:30 , Martha Mchardy

The Duke of Sussex’s security should have been “properly stage-managed”, a former royal bodyguard has said, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near-catastrophic” car chase involving paparazzi.

Ellie Muir reports:

Princess Diana’s former bodyguard speaks out about Harry and Meghan’s ‘car chase’

Omid Scobie attacks royal family as palace silent on car ‘chase’

10:14 , Martha Mchardy

Journalist Omid Scobie has attacked the Royal Family for failing to contact Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle after they were involved in a car chase in New York City.

The Sussex’s were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York on Tuesday evening involving “highly aggressive” paparazzi that lasted over two hours.

Scobie, who has authored biographies about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, told BBC Newsnight that the response from the royal family to the incident has been “disappointing” for the couple.

He claimed neither King Charles or Prince Harry had contacted Prince Harry following the incident.

“It’s impossible not to think of Princess Diana when we hear about car accidents and this kind of aggressive paparazzi chase,” he told TV host Victoria Derbyshire during the programme.

“So I was really surprised to hear… that not one member of the royal family, including King Charles and Prince William – who obviously [were] heavily affected by Princess Diana’s death – has reached out to Prince Harry, hours after the news had broken.”

Buckingham Palace told The Independent that it would not be commenting on the incident.

Kate Ng reports:

Omid Scobie criticises Charles and William for ‘not contacting Harry’ after car chase

Watch: New York mayor condemns 'reckless' paparazzi over Harry and Meghan 'car chase'

10:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Watch: Meghan and Harry's taxi driver speaks out after 'chase'

09:50 , Martha Mchardy

News sites take down paparazzi photos of Harry and Meghan after ‘catastrophic’ chase

09:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Photos of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taken on the night they were chased by paparazzi in New York City briefly appeared on British tabloid websites before they were taken down amid reports that the pursuit led to “near collisions.”

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that a relentless chase unfolded after the couple and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland attended the Ms Foundation for Women award ceremony in Midtown.

The spokesperson said the pursuit was “near catastrophic” and involved “other drivers ... pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”

The NYPD told The Independent in a statement on Wednesday that the department assisted in the couple’s “challenging” transport, but no collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests were reported.

Watch: Harry and Meghan involved in 'near catastrophic' car chase involving paparazzi

09:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Harry and Meghan car chase was ‘very tense’, paparazzi driver claims

08:51 , Martha Mchardy

A paparazzi driver reportedly involved in the allegedly high speed New York car chase of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has said that it was “very tense” trying to keep up with their vehicle.

Speaking anonymously to ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, the driver said: “Last night after leaving the theatre, there were hopes from me and a few other photographers that maybe they would go to a restaurant.

“For the most part, I was driving and it was very tense trying to keep up with the vehicles. They did a lot of blocking and there was a lot of different type of manoeuvres to stop what was happening.”

He claimed that Harry and Meghan’s driver made the pursuit “a catastrophic experience”.

“Their driver was making it a catastrophic experience... if they were going 80mph, I would probably have been going 20mph behind them and hoping to keep sight of them,” he said.

“So if it was dangerous and catastrophic, it was more than likely based on the person that was driving.”

Harry and Meghan ‘not contacted by royal family’ after car chase, royal biographer claims

08:35 , Martha Mchardy

Not one member of the Royal Family reached out to Prince Harry following news of a car chase in New York City on Tuesday evening, royal biographer Omid Scobie has claimed.

During an interview on BBC Newsnight, Mr Scobie said: “It’s impossible not to think of Princess Diana when we hear about car accidents and this kind of aggressive paparazzi chase and so I was really surprised to hear from sources that not one member of the Royal Family, including King Charles and Prince William who were obviously heavily affected by Princess Diana’s death, had not reached out to Prince Harry hours after this news had broken.”

“Sadly that kind of shows the state of disrepair that that relationship is. It’s hard not to forget that Harry was here just a couple of weeks ago for King Charle’s coronation.

“You would have thought that that may go towards building some kind of path towards reconciliation in some way, but it seems like that’s not felt on the other side.

“That would have no doubt been a disappointing addition to what has already been a traumatic 12 hours for the couple.”

PA news agency also reported that no members of the royal family had reached out to the couple as of 10pm on Wednesday.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman declined to comment.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase saying two officers could’ve been hurt

08:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has told reporters that it is “reckless and irresponsible” for anyone to chase people in vehicles in the densely populated city following claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic” pursuit by paparazzi photographers.

The mayor said he has not received a full briefing about the incident yet but was especially concerned about reports after a statement from the couple’s spokesperson described: “multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers”.

“It’s clear that the press, the paparazzi, they want to get the right shot,” Mayor Adams said on Wednesday, the morning after the chase. “But public safety must always be at the forefront.”

Mayor Adams was especially concerned that “two of our officers could have been injured” and said while he found it “hard to believe that there was a two-hour high-speed chase,” even an incident lasting 10 minutes could have been “extremely dangerous”.

“New York City is different from a small town somewhere. You shouldn’t be speeding anywhere but this is a densely populated city,” he added, noting the amount of traffic and movement and people on the streets.

Duke of Sussex’s security should have been ‘properly stage managed’, says former bodyguard

08:17 , Martha Mchardy

The Duke of Sussex’s security should have been “properly stage managed”, his former bodyguard has said.

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Ken Wharfe said: “The protection team he has got at the moment has never dealt with such a high-profile celebrity as Harry and Meghan.

“To them, I have some sympathy. The whole point is you have to take advice on this, and I don’t know to what extent the New York Police Department were involved, but basically it’s something that needs to be properly stage managed.

“I will make the point here from my own experience ... the paparazzi, at best, can be talked to, but at worst they’re a nuisance.

“But they’re not out to cause the death of any one person. So, I think we have to be a little bit careful there.”

'All of a sudden paparazzi came out and started taking pictures’

08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Harry and Meghan briefly took refuge at a police station before being whisked away in a yellow taxicab, it was reported.

Harry and his wife, Meghan, were trailed in their car by photographers as they left a New York City charity event Tuesday night, briefly taking refuge at a police station before being whisked away in a yellow taxicab.

The cab driver who drove them from the police station said he instantly recognized his passengers and that paparazzi “were following us the whole time,” though he said wouldn’t call it a chase.

“They had this look on their faces,” the driver, Sukhcharn Singh, said. “All of a sudden paparazzi came out and started taking pictures.”

Cab driver speaks out about ‘near catastrophic car chase’

07:51 , Martha Mchardy

The taxi driver who drove Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle and her mother through New York City during a car chase has spoken out.

Sukhcharn Singh picked up the Sussexes from the New York City Police Department’s 19th precinct on Tuesday evening, where they had gone to in an attempt to lose paparazzi.

He told NBC the Sussex’swere followed by paparazzi but their description of the car chase as “near catastrophic” was “exaggerated”, and he never felt as if he was in danger.

He said: “I think that’s all you know, exaggerated and stuff like that. So don’t read too much into that, you know.

“New York City is the safest place to be. There’s police stations, there’s cops on every corner, so there’s no reason to be afraid in New York.”

Mr Singh also told the Washington Post Meghan and Harry’s security asked him to drive back to the station out of concern their location would be shared with more people.

“I don’t think I would call it a chase,” he said. “I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. They were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York—it’s safe.”

Royal fans claim paparazzi ‘learned nothing from Diana’ after Meghan and Harry involved in car chase

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Royal fans have expressed their concerns that paparazzi photographers “learned nothing from Diana” after Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland were reportedly “involved in a near catastrophic car chase” with paparazzi.

“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,” a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement, adding that the “relentless pursuit” lasted “over two hours” and “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers”.

The incident is said to have occurred on Tuesday after the couple and Ms Ragland attended an awards ceremony in New York City, with the Sussexes reportedly on their way back to the “private residence” where they were staying when they encountered the paparazzi.

It is understood that Harry and Meghan believe the pursuit, which is said to have involved six blacked-out vehicles, could have been fatal.

Everything we know about ‘near catastrophic’ Harry and Meghan paparazzi chase in New York

07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan narrowly avoided a “catastrophic” collision while being pursued by paparazzi after leaving a charity event in New York on Tuesday night, a spokesperson said.

The royal couple were followed by photographers in half a dozen vehicles with blacked out windows, on scooters and bikes after exiting the Women of Vision Awards at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, their official spokesman said.

The couple, accompanied by Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, were involved in several close calls but there was no car accident, a law enforcement source told CNN.

The Duke of Sussex has been a vocal critic of press intrusion into his family’s lives, and lost his mother Princess Diana after a high-speed pursuit in Paris in 1997.

Bevan Hurley has the details:

Everything we know about ‘near catastrophic’ Harry and Meghan paparazzi chase

Voices: Heckled and harried hours before, Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A relentless pursuit. Two hours. The son and his wife in the car. It is a succession of coincidences and details that will make the blood of every right thinking person boil, Samuel Fishwick writes:

Opinion: Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

‘Stalker’ arrested outside Harry and Meghan’s Montecito home

06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A man suspected of stalking Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was arrested outside the couple’s home in Santa Barbara County, California, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Kevin Garcia Valdovinos, 29, was allegedly seen “lurking” outside the mansion in Montecito at around 2am, according to TMZ, and was booked on misdemeanour stalking charges after police attended the scene.

It is not known whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, or their children Prince Archie, four, or Princess Lilibet, one, were at home at the time of the incident.

However, the couple were in New York City on Tuesday evening to attend a Ms Foundation gala, where Ms Markle received the 2023 Women of Vision Award for her advocacy work on behalf of women, thanking Gloria Steinem, who presented her with the accolade, for providing “inspiration”.

ICYMI: Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic’ two-hour car chase involving paparazzi

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle claim they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York involving “highly aggressive” paparazzi that lasted over two hours.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland were followed from a charity awards ceremony as they headed to a private residence.

“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two [police] officers,” a spokesperson for the royal couple said.

The statement was a chilling echo of the 1997 chase through Paris that killed Harry’s mother, Princess Diana.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase saying two officers could’ve been hurt

05:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has told reporters that it is “reckless and irresponsible” for anyone to chase people in vehicles in the densely populated city following claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic” pursuit by paparazzi photographers.

The mayor said he has not received a full briefing about the incident yet but was especially concerned about reports after a statement from the couple’s spokesperson described: “multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers”.

“It’s clear that the press, the paparazzi, they want to get the right shot,” Mayor Adams said on Wednesday, the morning after the chase. “But public safety must always be at the forefront.”

Mayor Adams was especially concerned that “two of our officers could have been injured” and said while he found it “hard to believe that there was a two-hour high-speed chase,” even an incident lasting 10 minutes could have been “extremely dangerous”.

“New York City is different from a small town somewhere. You shouldn’t be speeding anywhere but this is a densely populated city,” he added, noting the amount of traffic and movement and people on the streets.

News sites take down paparazzi photos of Harry and Meghan after ‘catastrophic’ chase

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Photos of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taken on the night they were chased by paparazzi in New York City briefly appeared on British tabloid websites before they were taken down amid reports that the pursuit led to “near collisions.”

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that a relentless chase unfolded after the couple and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland attended the Ms Foundation for Women award ceremony in Midtown.

The spokesperson said the pursuit was “near catastrophic” and involved “other drivers ... pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”

The NYPD told The Independent in a statement on Wednesday that the department assisted in the couple’s “challenging” transport, but no collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests were reported.

According to royal biographer Omid Scobie and online reports, some pictures of the couple taken around the time of the chase were briefly featured on DailyMail.com and The Daily Express but have since been removed.

It is unknown whether the photos in question were taken by the paparazzi accused of pursuing Meghan and Harry on the packed streets of Manhattan.

Prince Harry’s fears about ‘history repeating itself’ resurface amid paparazzi car chase

04:00 , Andrea Blanco

Prince Harry’s fears of “history repeating itself” have gained renewed attention after he and Meghan Markle were allegedly involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” with paparazzi.

The Independent’s Meredith Clark reports:

Prince Harry’s fears about ‘history repeating itself’ resurface amid car chase

Buckingham Palace refuse to comment on paparazzi car chase

03:30 , Andrea Blanco

Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving the paparazzi.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed today they were subjected to a “relentless pursuit” by photographers after an event in New York on Tuesday evening. The royal couple, who were with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, said that “highly aggressive paparazzi” chased them for two hours that resulted “in multiple near collisions”.

Buckingham Palace told The Independent that it would not be commenting on the incident.

When the spokesperson was asked if King Charles planned to get in contact with his son, the spokesperson repeated that the Palace will not be commenting.

Cab driver says Meghan and Harry seemed scared' but wouldn’t call the incident a chase’

03:00 , Andrea Blanco

The taxi driver that picked up the Sussexes from the New York City Police Department’s 19th precinct, where they had gone to in an attempt to lose paparazzi, told the Washington Post he didn’t feel threatened. The driver said Meghan and Harry’s security asked him to drive back to the station out of concern their location would be shared with more people.

“I don’t think I would call it a chase,” Sukhcharn Singh told the Post. “I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. They were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York—it’s safe.”

The NYPD told The Independent in a statement that the department assisted the couple’s “challenging” transport, but no collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests were reported. Meanwhile, Mr Sanchez told CNN that Prince Harry and Meghan were left frightened and exhausted by the time they arrived to safety.

WATCH: New York mayor condemns 'reckless' paparazzi over Harry and Meghan 'car chase' 1m

02:30 , Andrea Blanco

Member of security detail for the Sussexes recounts ‘chaotic’ chase

02:00 , Andrea Blanco

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that a relentless pursuit unfolded after the couple and Ms Markle’s mother Doria Ragland attended an awards ceremony in New York City. The “two-hour-long” chase reportedly resulted in multiple near collisions involving “other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”

Chris Sanchez, a member of the Sussexes security team, told CNN in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that he “had never” come close to the chaos he experienced on Tuesday night.

“What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles,” Mr Sanchez said. “The public [was] in jeopardy at several points. It could have been fatal. They were jumping curbs and red lights. At one point they blocked the limousine and started taking pictures until we were able to get out.”

“[I] was concerned about [Prince Harry and his wife] but more about the public because they [the paparazzi] were being so erratic,” Mr Sanchez added. “People were on sidewalks and crossing streets and the [paparazzi] were crossing red lights. We did everything by the letter of law.”

WATCH: Harry and Meghan arrive at New York event before 'near-catastrophic' car chase

01:30 , Andrea Blanco

Photos of Harry and Meghan taken down following ‘near collision’ reports

01:00 , Andrea Blanco

Photos of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taken on the night they were chased by paparazzi in New York City briefly appeared on British tabloid websites before they were taken down amid reports that the pursuit led to “near collisions.”

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that a relentless chase unfolded after the couple and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland attended the Ms Foundation for Women award ceremony in Midtown.

The spokesperson for the Sussexes condemned the “dangerous” way images of the couple and Ms Ragland leaving the event were obtained.

“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,” the spokesperson said. “Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved.”

According to royal biographer Omid Scobie and online reports, some pictures of the couple taken around the time of the chase were briefly featured on DailyMail.com and The Daily Express but have since been removed. It is unknown whether the photos in question were taken by the paparazzi accused of pursuing Meghan and Harry on the packed streets of Manhattan. The Independent has reached out to the Mail and the Express for comment.

Prince Harry has previously criticised paparazzi over Princess Diana’s death

Thursday 18 May 2023 00:30 , Andrea Blanco

Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in 1997 from injuries sustained in a car crash after trying to flee paparazzi who were following her vehicle.

The duke, who was 12 years old when his mother died, spoke about his concern of history repeating itself in his AppleTV+ docuseries The Me You Can’t See, in which he drew parallels between the treatment of his mother and the scrutiny he and Meghan faced.

“It’s incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life, but the list is growing. And it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry,” Harry said.

In the docuseries, Harry also reflected on the inquest into Diana’s death, which concluded she was unlawfully killed due to “gross negligence” of her driver, Henri Paul, who had been drinking, and the paparazzi who were following her car at the time of the crash.

According to the duke, he was “so angry” that there was “no justice at all” after the inquest. “Nothing came from that. The same people who chased her into the tunnel photographed her dying in the backseat of that car,” he recalled.

The royal has also spoken about the trauma of his mother’s death in his revealing memoir Spare. Prince Harry said in the book he’s retraced the route his mother’s driver took in Paris on the night she died.

“I’d thought driving the tunnel would bring an end, or brief cessation, to the pain, the decade of unrelenting pain. Instead, it brought on the start of Pain, Part Deux,” he wrote.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase saying two officers could’ve been hurt

Thursday 18 May 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has told reporters that it is “reckless and irresponsible” for anyone to chase people in vehicles in the densely populated city following claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic” pursuit by paparazzi photographers.

The Independent’s Oliver O’Connell has more:

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase

VOICES: Heckled and harried hours before, Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

Wednesday 17 May 2023 23:30 , Andrea Blanco

“A relentless pursuit. Two hours. The son and his wife in the car. It is a succession of coincidences and details that will make the blood of every right-thinking person boil,” Samuel Fishwick writes.

Opinion: Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

Member of Harry and Meghan’s security detail speaks out following ‘chaotic’ chase

Wednesday 17 May 2023 22:41 , Andrea Blanco

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that a relentless pursuit unfolded after the couple and Ms Markle’s mother Doria Ragland attended an awards ceremony in New York City. The “two-hour-long” chase reportedly resulted in multiple near collisions involving “other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”

Chris Sanchez, a member of the Sussexes security team, told CNN in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that he “had never” come close to the chaos he experienced on Tuesday night.

“What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles,” Mr Sanchez said. “The public [was] in jeopardy at several points. It could have been fatal. They were jumping curbs and red lights. At one point they blocked the limousine and started taking pictures until we were able to get out.”

Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic car chase’ involving paparazzi

Wednesday 17 May 2023 22:11 , Andrea Blanco

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving paparazzi photographers that lasted over two hours, a spokesperson for the prince said on Wednesday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were followed by half a dozen vehicles after attending a charity awards ceremony by the Ms. Foundation for Women, where Meghan was honoured for her work, on Tuesday evening.

Paparazzi chase comes amid Prince Harry’s multiple lawsuits against UK media

Wednesday 17 May 2023 21:36 , Andrea Blanco

The incident in New York has taken place while Prince Harry is pursuing multiple civil claims against UK newspaper groups for alleged phone hacking.

He is bringing a contested claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Harry is also waiting for rulings over whether similar cases against publishers Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) and News Group Newspapers (NGN) can continue.

A judgment is also expected over the duke’s libel claim against ANL - publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday - over an article on his case against the Home Office.

WATCH: Harry and Meghan arrive at New York event moments before ‘near-catastrophic’ car chase

Wednesday 17 May 2023 21:10 , Andrea Blanco

‘We need laws, rules to govern these predatory paparazzi’

Wednesday 17 May 2023 20:37 , Andrea Blanco

Actress Mia Farrow has said there should be rules to govern the paparazzi’s behaviour after they allegedly chased after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Member of Meghan and Harry’s security detail

Wednesday 17 May 2023 20:18 , Andrea Blanco

Chris Sanchez, a member of Prince Harry and Meghan’s security team, told CNN that he “had never” experienced anything like the “near catastrophic” chase last night.

“I have never seen, experienced anything like this,” he told CNN. “What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles ... The public were in jeopardy at several points. It could have been fatal.”

Prince Harry previously criticised the press for taking pictures of his mother ‘while she was still dying on the back seat of the car’

Wednesday 17 May 2023 20:10 , Andrea Blanco

In the BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, which marked the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, Prince Harry said: “I think one of the hardest things to come to terms with is the fact that the people that chased her through into the tunnel were the same people that were taking photographs of her, while she was still dying on the back seat of the car.”

ICYMI: Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic’ two-hour car chase involving paparazzi

Wednesday 17 May 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle claim they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving “highly aggressive” paparazzi photographers that lasted over two hours.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were followed after attending a charity awards ceremony for the Ms. Foundation for Women with her mother Doria Ragland on Tuesday evening, where Meghan was honoured for her work.

It is understood the couple believed the pursuit could have been fatal, as it involved six blacked-out vehicles being driven recklessly, which they said endangered their convoy and everyone around them.

WATCH: New York mayor condemns 'reckless' paparazzi over Harry and Meghan 'car chase'

Wednesday 17 May 2023 19:43 , Andrea Blanco

Taxi driver who drove Meghan and Harry speaks out

Wednesday 17 May 2023 19:42 , Andrea Blanco

The cab driver, Sukhcharn Singh, told the Associated Press that he instantly recognized the couple when they got inside his vehicle.

“They were following us the whole time,” he said of the paparazzi, though he said he wouldn’t call it a chase.

Buckingham Palace decline to comment

Wednesday 17 May 2023 19:36 , Joe Middleton

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the “near catastrophic car chase” involving the paparazzi, former working royal Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.

Who is Meghan Markle’s mother? Everything to know about Doria Ragland

Wednesday 17 May 2023 19:28 , Joe Middleton

Over the years, Meghan Markle has been very vocal about her close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland.

On Tuesday, 16 May, the pair were accompanied by Prince Harry as they made their way to Manhattan to attend a charity awards ceremony by the Ms. Foundation for Women, where Meghan was honoured for her work. The royal couple have now claimed that when they left the event, they were followed by the paparazzi for more than two hours.

“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,” a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement released on 17 May.

What to know about Doria Ragland amid paparazzi car chase?

Taxi driver denies Harry and Meghan were chased - reports

Wednesday 17 May 2023 19:11 , Joe Middleton

A taxi driver who picked up Prince Harry, Meghan and her mother, has denied they were chased by paparazzi, the Washington Post reports.

Sukhcharn Singh told the newspaper he picked up the three passengers at around 11pm at the New York City Police Department’s 19th precinct on East 67th Street.

He said he drove them for a short period, during which time they were followed by two vehicles, who would take pictures and film when the taxi stopped.

Mr Singh said he was under the impression the couple had already been pursued by photographers earlier in the evening before entering his car.

He added that the couple’s security guard became concerned about them being “exposed” and asked him to turn around and take them back to the police drop-off point. The trip lasted 10 minutes.

He told WaPo: “I don’t think I would call it a chase. I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. They were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York — it’s safe.”

Reaction: ‘We need laws, rules to govern these predatory paparazzi'

Wednesday 17 May 2023 18:52 , Joe Middleton

Actress Mia Farrow has said there should be rules to govern the paparazzi’s behaviour after they allegedly chased after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Heckled and harried hours before, Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

Wednesday 17 May 2023 18:37 , Joe Middleton

A relentless pursuit. Two hours. The son and his wife in the car. It is a succession of coincidences and details that will make the blood of every right thinking person boil, writes Samuel Fishwick.

Opinion: Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

ICYMI: Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic’ two-hour car chase involving paparazzi

Wednesday 17 May 2023 18:16 , Joe Middleton

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle claim they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving “highly aggressive” paparazzi photographers that lasted over two hours.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were followed after attending a charity awards ceremony for the Ms. Foundation for Women with her mother Doria Ragland on Tuesday evening, where Meghan was honoured for her work.

It is understood the couple believed the pursuit could have been fatal, as it involved six blacked-out vehicles being driven recklessly, which they said endangered their convoy and everyone around them.

Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic’ car chase involving paparazzi

New York Police Department (NYPD) full statement

Wednesday 17 May 2023 17:54 , Joe Middleton

A statement from the NYPD said: On Wednesday evening, May 16, the NYPD 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.”

Police source corroborates part of Harry and Meghan’s account of car chase

Wednesday 17 May 2023 17:52 , Joe Middleton

A police source has told CNN that a number of paparazzi followed the couple’s vehicle after the event they attended in New York on Tuesday evening.

The source corrobated some of their account and said that Harry and Meghan were tailed by photographers in cars and on bikes and scooters.

They added there were a number of close incidents during the chase, but none resulted in a crash.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) followed the couple with a protective team and they were also forced into evasive moves to get away from photographers, the source said.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase saying two officers could’ve been hurt

Wednesday 17 May 2023 17:45 , Joe Middleton

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has told reporters that it is “reckless and irresponsible” for anyone to chase people in vehicles in the densely populated city following claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a “near catastrophic” pursuit by paparazzi photographers.

The mayor said he has not received a full briefing about the incident yet, but was especially concerned about reports of “multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers”.

“Two of our officers could have been injured,” Mayor Adams said on Wednesday, the morning after the chase. “New York City is different from a small town somewhere, you shouldn’t be speeding anywhere but this is a densely populated city.”

Oliver O’Connell reports.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams backs Harry and Meghan over ‘reckless’ car chase