Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s spokesperson claimed the couple was involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving paparazzi photographers Tuesday evening.
The NYPD, who assisted Prince Harry and Markle with transportation, shared their account with Fox News Digital. “There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging,” Julian Phillips, deputy commissioner of public information, said in a statement.Ā
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”
The NYPD is looking through traffic camera footage and security footage to “piece together what transpired,” a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and her mother Doria in taxi on night of alleged chase
The above video shows the chaotic scene the night of Harry and Markle’s alleged chase. However, it does not show any near-collisions. At the time of publication, no footage of the alleged car chase has been made available.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland are spotted in a cab after attending the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on Tuesday. (Backgrid)
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, were pursued in their car by photographers after a charity event in New York. With the help of police, the couple was eventually able to switch to a taxi cab and be whisked away, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and did so on condition of anonymity.
Prince Harry, Markle and her mother spent several minutes at a police precinct about 18 blocks from the event they had attended.
The cab driver, Sukhcharn Singh, told The Associated Press that he instantly recognized his passengers. “They were following us the whole time,” he said of the paparazzi, though he said he wouldnāt call it a chase.
Singh, the cab driver, was on 67th Street near an NYPD precinct when a security guard waved him down. Singh pulled the yellow taxi to the curb and in came Harry, Meghan and her mom.
“They had this look on their faces,” he said. They were about to give their destination when a garbage truck blocked their path.
“All of a sudden paparazzi came out and started taking pictures,” he said.
Instead, one of the royals told him to circle back to the precinct.
“They didnāt say much,” Singh said. “They just asked my name and then after that Harry said thanks and have a good day.”
They paid $17 in fare ā and left a generous tip.
“It was pretty good man,” Singh told The Associated Press. “They gave me a $50.”
“I mean, when Iām going around the block thatās more than enough.”
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, joined the couple on the red carpet. (Kevin Mazur)
The incident took place Tuesday evening after Harry and Markle attended the Women of Vision Awards in New York, where the Duchess of Sussex was given the 2023 Women of Vision Award by Gloria Steinem.
A spokesperson for the royal couple told Fox News Digital: “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.
“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 being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyoneās safety.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose on the red carpet ahead of the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards. (Kevin Mazur)
MEGHAN MARKLE ALL SMILES IN GOLD GOWN ALONGSIDE PRINCE HARRY FOR POST-CORONATION AWARD
According to royal watcher Omid Scobie, the paparazzi were confronted by police multiple times as they chased the royal couple, who were on their way to a private residence where they were staying. Scobie alleged on Twitter that the photographers drove on a sidewalk, ran through red lights, reversed down a one-way street, photographed the couple while driving and illegally blocked a moving vehicle.
Prince Harry, Markle and her mother are “understandably shaken but thankful everyone’s safe,” a source told Scobie.
New York Mayor Eric Adams emphasized public safety is the biggest concern.
“Two of our officers could’ve been injured,” he told reporters during a press conference before adding, “You shouldn’t be speeding anywhere, but this is a densely populated city.”
“I would find it hard to believe that there was a two-hour high-speed chaseā¦ but we will find out the exact duration of it, but if it’s 10 minutes, a 10-minute chase is extremely dangerous in New York City,” he continued. “Any type of high-speed chase that involves something of that nature is inappropriate. Police do it under limited circumstances when they’re going after violent people, but to do it because you want to get the shot can turn out to be a place where people can be harmed in a real way.”
Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, died in a car crash in 1997. At the time, she was being pursued by paparazzi in Paris.
Prince Harry and Markle have voiced strong concerns over their safety and the safety of their family. The Duke of Sussex is currently locked in a legal battle in the U.K. Harry has insisted he be allowed to pay for police protection in the U.K. after being stripped of royal security following his decision to become a non-working royal.
Markle and Harry stepped back from their senior roles in 2020 and have since settled in California to raise their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
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Meghan Markle speaks on stage at the Women of Vision Awards. (Getty Images)
The Duchess of Sussex was joined by Gloria Steinem, center, and Teresa Younger during the ceremony. (Getty Images)
Markle received the award Tuesday for “her global advocacy to empower and advocate on behalf of women and girls” from Steinem, the Ms. Foundation co-founder.
According to its 2022 annual report, the organization provided 12.66 million COVID-19 vaccines with partner Global Citizen and helped resettle nearly 175,000 refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan in the U.S. with partner Welcome.US.
The foundation also helped build a community play space in Uvalde, Texas, following the school shooting there that killed 19 children and two teachers.
Markle and Steinem smile on the red carpet at Ms. Foundation event in New York. (Kevin Mazur)
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Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
This post originally appeared on and written by:
Margarete Catt
Fox News 2023-05-17 14:41:00
