Royal Family
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘shaken’ after New York City paparazzi chase
The pair were travelling with Markle’s mom, and were pursued by photographers.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be “extremely upset and shaken” after being involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York City on Tuesday night.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were travelling with Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland, when they were pursued by photographers after leaving Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan.
“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 told People.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.
“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.
“Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved.”
The trio, who attended the Women of Vision Awards at the theater where the former actress was honoured by Gloria Steinem, left the event in an SUV at around 10 p.m. and were immediately followed by around 12 paparazzi according to Page Six.
They later ditched their original vehicle and jumped in a yellow cab in order to evade photographers.
A source told the outlet that one cameraman hit a car while another almost ran over a NYPD officer.
“It started off with 12 paparazzi, then ended up with four chasing [Meghan, Harry and Doria],” the insider told the outlet. “Their security tried their best to lose [photographers].”
Harry later used his cellphone to record the chase, as paparazzi continued their chase despite being confronted by uniformed police officers.
The trio are still in NYC
Reports state that the trio are still in NYC following the close call. It’s unclear when they will head back to their home in California.
“Everyone is still upset, to say the least. It was horrific,” a source told Page Six.
Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a 1997 car crash in Paris that also involved photographers pursuing her vehicle.
He has often spoken about the pain his mother’s untimely death has caused him.
In a 2019 documentary, ‘Harry & Meghan: An African Journey’, he stated that he thinks of his late mom every time he sees a camera flash.
“Being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back,” Harry stated.
“So in that respect, it’s the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best.”