Prince Harry and Meghan ‘paparazzi car chase’ was not ‘near catastrophic’, NYPD officials suggest

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase after being followed by paparazzi for more than two hours, according to his spokesperson.

But two New York police officials have played down the incident saying they do not believe the chase was “near catastrophic” and described a “bit of a chaotic scene”.

A taxi driver who picked up Harry, Meghan and her mother Doria Ragland outside the New York City Police Department’s 19 precinct at around 11pm local time on Tuesday said they were in his car around 10 minutes.

Sukhcharn Singh told The Washington Post: “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.”

Mr Singh also said he got the impression from the Sussexes that they had already been pursued by paparazzi before they got in his car.

Meanwhile, New York’s mayor Eric Adams has said two police officers could have been injured as they assisted Harry and Meghan’s private security team while their car was being followed.

The pursuit took place after the Sussexes had attended an awards ceremony at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York on Tuesday – their first public appearance since the King’s coronation.

Harry’s spokesperson said: “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 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 involved.”

Julian Phillips, the deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department, has said officers “assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex”.

He continued: “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.”

New York’s mayor said later: “The press or paparazzi, you know, they want to get the right shot, they want to get the right story.

“But public safety must always be at the forefront. In a briefing I received (I heard) two of our officers could have been injured… I don’t think there’s many of us who don’t recall how (Harry’s) mum died.

“It would be horrific to lose the innocent bystander during a chase like this and something to have happened to them as well.”

Mr Adams added he believes the behaviour of those following the Sussexes was “reckless and irresponsible”.

Harry, Meghan and Ms Ragland were reportedly followed by half a dozen blacked-out vehicles which were being driven by unidentified people.

The vehicles are said to have driven on pavements, jumped red lights and reversed down a one-way street.

It has also been said at least one driver was using their phone behind the wheel.

At least one other is reported to have been photographing while driving.

One of the cars is said to have illegally blocked a moving vehicle.

Those pursuing the Sussexes are said to have been confronted by uniformed police multiple times but continued their pursuit.

Harry and Meghan are thought to have been staying at a private residence and did not want to compromise the security of their friend’s home.

The Sussexes are understood to accept a heightened level of attention when they are at public events, and prior to the chase they are said to have exited and entered the New York venue publicly, allowing photographers to get pictures.

Omid Scobie, who wrote the book “Finding Freedom” about Harry and Meghan, has tweeted to say a source has said the Sussexes and Ms Ragland are “understandably shaken but thankful everyone’s safe”.

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What has Prince Harry previously said about the paparazzi?

Pictures that have appeared on social media have shown Harry, Meghan and her mother Ms Ragland in a taxi.

The Duchess of Sussex had encouraged women to fight for equity at the Ms. Foundation for Women’s annual gala.

“It’s never too late to start,” she said at the event in New York. “You can be the visionary of your own life… There is still so much work to be done.”

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal roles in 2020 and moved to the United States partly because of what they described as intense media harassment.

The prince has long spoken out about his anger about press intrusion which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed when her limousine crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi in Paris in 1997.

The car chase comes after a man was reportedly arrested outside Harry and Meghan’s home for stalking in the early hours of Monday, according to TMZ.

A representative for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office told the celebrity news site they got a call from security staffers at the couple’s LA mansion at around 2am local time.