Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle were, on Tuesday, May 16, hounded by the paparazzi in a chaotic car chase that could have resulted in an accident. The Royal couple’s spokesperson described the shocking incident as something that could have had a “catastrophic” outcome. Harry and Meghan were said to have been leaving the Women of Vision Awards event in New York when the paparazzi were in a frenzy. Here’s a breakdown of the viral moment and the development afterward.
What Happened to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry?
The royals were said to have exited the Ziegfeld Ballroom in a convoy that included Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, when photographers went after their ride. However, The Susexxes’ spokesperson revealed that the encounter with the paparazzi posed a risk.
Following what was described as a prolonged incident, Meghan and Harry escaped without a scratch, but they were shaken up. Their representative noted, “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.”
The rep went on to relay that the “relentless pursuit” lasted for over two hours, resulting in several near collisions that could have affected other motorists. He explained that the aggravated situation could have also affected two NYPD officers and pedestrians.
There Were Multiple Accounts Of Markle and Prince Harry’s Car Chase
Two members of Meghan and Harry’s security team also came forward, revealing the chaos unleashed as road users tried to navigate. They made it known that the star couple had to switch cars on the road. Thomas Buda, a private security business owner, explained that the royals of Sussex were hounded immediately after they got out of Ziegfeld Ballroom.
According to Buda, the paparazzi tried to find out where Markle and Harry stayed in New York. Chris Sanchez, also on the security team, relayed to CNN that it was an alarming occurrence. Sanchez noted that he had never seen anything as such before as he described it as “very chaotic.”
How Did Harry And Markle Escape The Car Chase Situation?
Following the unexpected road chase, the security team safely transported the couple to the 19th police precinct on East 67th Street. There, Prince Harry and his wife boarded a taxi that took them to the police station.
The taxi driver, Sukhcharn Singh, also gave an account of the incident, noting that it was unlike anything he had ever seen since he started the taxi business in 2018. Singh relayed that other celebrities did not get that much attention. However, he added that as soon as Harry and Markle were in his taxi, the paparazzi stormed the car, trying to take pictures from every angle.
The taxi owner shared that although he was not alarmed, his passengers looked “very nervous and scared.” Nevertheless, the Sussexes could finally go home at midnight when patrol officers caused a checkpoint that helped them exit.
The NYPD’s Account Of The Car Chase
The New York Police Department confirmed the distress that Prince Harry and Meghan faced. However, the police account was subtle. Julian Philip, the NYPD deputy commissioner, shared in a statement:
“[The NYPD] assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Tuesday evening, and there were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging.”
Per Sky News, the statement further urged the media to desist from sharing images of the event. This was due to the manner in which the photos were taken. Phillips described it as a “highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved.”
The deputy commissioner revealed that the couple got to their destination safely, and there were no “collisions, injuries or arrests.” However, New York’s mayor Eric Adams shared that two officers could have sustained injuries as they tried to curtail the chaos.
Adams noted that the paparazzi always strived to get the story right, but public safety was essential. He pointed out that the behavior during the car chase was “reckless and irresponsible.”
There were reportedly blacked-out vehicles, people jumping red lights, and other road use vices. While the scary car chase left Meghan Markle and Prince Harry worried, the couple is thankful everyone is safe.