Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, accompanied by Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, experienced a tumultuous car chase with paparazzi in New York City on Tuesday night, raising concerns about a potentially disastrous outcome, according to their spokesperson…
Following their attendance at the Women of Vision Awards at Ziegfeld Ballroom, the Sussexes found themselves pursued by photographers. Although the incident left the couple shaken, no injuries or collisions were reported, as confirmed by their security detail to CNN.
The couple’s spokesperson described the encounter with the paparazzi as a prolonged and perilous car chase. “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,” stated the spokesperson.
Accounts from two individuals involved in the couple’s security detail portrayed the incident as chaotic, with paparazzi vehicles including cars, scooters, mopeds, and electric bikes. The Sussexes had to switch cars during the pursuit, as reported.
Thomas Buda, a private security business owner contracted to assist the couple, stated that the chase began immediately after Prince Harry and Meghan left Ziegfeld Ballroom and endured for 90 minutes. He mentioned that the paparazzi were trying to determine the couple’s whereabouts while in New York City. According to Buda, the paparazzi ran red lights, drove against oncoming traffic on 34th Street, and even proceeded the wrong way on one-way streets, disregarding pedestrians in crosswalks.
Chris Sanchez, a member of the couple’s security team, expressed his alarm over the incident, stating, “I have never seen, experienced anything like this. What we were dealing with was very chaotic.” He further explained that the Sussexes were frightened but relieved upon their return to their accommodation, highlighting the potential danger posed to the public throughout the chase.
After a hazardous game of cat and mouse, security personnel moved Prince Harry and Meghan to the 19th police precinct on East 67th Street. From there, a yellow taxi transported them around the block, back to the police station.
The taxi driver, Sukhcharn Singh, shared his surreal experience with CNN, expressing that he had never witnessed such attention from the paparazzi. He described how the photographers stormed the taxi, taking pictures from every direction, while a security guard inside the cab confronted them. Singh mentioned that although he did not feel personally endangered, Prince Harry and Meghan appeared visibly nervous and scared.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed the key details of the couple’s account but provided a less dramatic description. The NYPD acknowledged assisting the private security team and clarified that no collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests were reported.
The couple’s spokesperson emphasized that while being public figures naturally generates public interest, it should never compromise anyone’s safety. They urged the media not to publish photographs from the incident, as obtaining them through such means encourages a dangerous and highly intrusive practice.
A local law enforcement source corroborated parts of the couple’s story, noting that they were followed by a swarm of paparazzi in cars, motorcycles, and scooters after leaving the event. The NYPD’s protective team accompanied Prince Harry and Meghan in another vehicle, maneuvering to distance themselves from the paparazzi.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the reckless and irresponsible behavior of the paparazzi, emphasizing the importance of public safety. Adams referred to the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997, highlighting the need to prioritize safety when dealing with paparazzi.
Prince Harry has often voiced concerns about the security of his family, drawing parallels between his wife’s treatment and that of his late mother. In their Netflix docuseries, he emphasized that while physical harassment by paparazzi was prevalent during Princess Diana’s time, the harassment now predominantly occurs online. He expressed the difficulties of witnessing his loved ones, including Meghan, face such intense media scrutiny and social media harassment.
Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace declined to comment on the incident.
