CNN—
Prinz Harryand his wife Meghan were involved in a chaotic paparazzi chase in New York on Tuesday night that could have led to a "disastrous" outcome, his rep claimed.
The Sussexes were followed by photographers after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at the city's Ziegfeld Ballroom in a convoy that included Doria Ragland, Meghan's mother. The couple were devastated by the incident, although no one was hurt, their security team told CNN.
Police said "several" photographers made transporting the Sussexes "a challenge" but no clashes, injuries or arrests were reported.
According to the couple's account, the battle with the photographers was time-consuming and risky. "Last night the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Mrs Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic chase by a very aggressive paparazzi gang," the couple's rep said.
"This relentless chase, which lasted over two hours, resulted in multiple near misses with other motorists on the street, pedestrians and two NYPD officers."
Two people in charge of the couple's safety also described the incident as chaotic, with the paparazzi in various vehicles including cars, scooters, mopeds and electric bicycles. The Sussexes were said to have had to change cars during the chase.
Thomas Buda, who runs a private security firm hired to help the couple, said the manhunt began the moment Harry and Meghan left the Ziegfeld ballroom and lasted 90 minutes.
Paparazzi wanted to know where the couple were in New York City, he said, and their vehicles ran red lights while pedestrians stood at crosswalks and cut through traffic on Manhattan's 34th Street, heading in the opposite direction. - Cross roads, Buddha said.
Chris Sanchez, a member of the couple's security team, who spokeexclusively on CNNHe said the incident was alarming. "I've never seen or experienced anything like this," he said. "What we had to do was very chaotic."
The Sussexes were scared but relieved when they returned to the flat they were staying in, he said. “The population was in danger in several places. It could have been fatal," Sánchez said.
After what Buda called an increasingly dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, security forces moved the Duke and Duchess to the 19th Precinct police station on East 67th Street.
From there, a yellow cab just drove around the block back to the train station.
Buda said the couple finally managed to escape when midnight shift officers pulled out in their squad cars, causing a bottleneck on the block that allowed security teams to pull Harry and Meghan into traffic and pull them away.
Taxi driver Sukhcharn Singh spoke to CNN on Wednesday night about the surreal experience he had.
“I've been driving since 2018, it was the first time I've seen this. Other celebrities have never received so much attention from the paparazzi," he said.
Singh recalled that after the Duke and Duchess got into the taxi and before they could tell him where to go, "suddenly the paparazzi flooded the taxi." Lightning came from all directions. They are against the car and taking pictures.”
At one point, Singh said, a security guard got out of the taxi to tell the paparazzi to move away.
Singh said he didn't feel personally threatened, but the Duke and Duchess appeared "very nervous".
"You could tell from their facial expressions that they were nervous and scared," Singh recalls.
Prince Harry and Meghan say they were followed by photographers for two hours after leaving an event in New York.
After a 10-minute drive, Singh dropped Harry and Meghan off in Manhattan's 19th arrondissement. He told CNN he was paid $50.00 for the ride, even though the fare was only $17.50.
reckless driving
In a statement, the New York Police Department (NYPD) more or less confirmed the story of the two Sussexes in less colorful language. The NYPD "assisted the private security team in protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex" Tuesday night and "numerous photographers made their transportation difficult," said Julian Phillips, New York City Assistant Police Commissioner for Public Information.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at their destination and there have been no reports of clashes, summonses, injuries or arrests related to this," it said.
The couple's spokesman said that while they have some public interest in being public figures, it must never be at the expense of anyone's safety and urged the media not to release photos of the incident. "The disclosure of these images, given the manner in which they were taken, encourages an extremely intrusive and dangerous practice for all involved."
According to the couple's team report, the incident involved about half a dozen blacked-out vehicles with unidentified individuals driving recklessly, endangering the convoy and everyone around them.
Doria Ragland, Duchess of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex at the Women of Vision Awards in New York.
A local police source confirmed part of the couple's allegations, telling CNN that the couple were followed by a "swarm" of paparazzi in cars, motorcycles and scooters after they left Tuesday's event. A New York Police Department (NYPD) security team followed Harry and Meghan in another car and had to perform some maneuvers to avoid the paparazzi, the source said.
Paparazzi glided down the sidewalk on scooters and bicycles to keep up with him, the source said. There have been many accidents, including short stops between front and rear cars, but none have resulted in an accident, the source added.
The couple's caravan was escorted to a police station where they regrouped, the source added.
Both King Charles' Buckingham Palace and Prince William's Kensington Palace told CNN they would not comment on the incident.
Mayor condemns 'reckless' paparazzi
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the incident "reckless" and "irresponsible."
"You shouldn't be speeding anywhere, but this is a densely populated city, and I think all of us, I don't think there's a lot of us that don't remember how our mother died," Adams said Asked reporters about the incident at an independent briefing.
"Of course the paparazzi want the right shot, they want the right story, but public safety always has to come first," Adams said.
The Duke of Sussex has been open about his family's safety, often highlighting the parallels between his wife's treatment and that of his mother Diana. The late Princess of Wales died of internal injuries sustained in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997.
In the six-part Netflix docuseries about the couple, Harry hit back at critics who said the couple had a paparazzi problem.
"In my mother's day, it was physical harassment: cameras in the face, chasing, chasing," she said.
"The paparazzi are still chasing people," he added. “But bullying is really happening online now. Once the photos are posted and the stories placed alongside them, that's when the social media bullying comes. It's hard to see another woman in my life that I love going through this binge eating. It's basically hunter versus prey.”
FAQs
Prince Harry and Meghan claim 'near-catastrophic' paparazzi pursuit in New York | CNN? ›
The Sussexes were pursued by photographers after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at the city's Ziegfeld Ballroom in a convoy that also included Doria Ragland, Meghan's mother. The couple were left shaken by the incident, although ultimately no-one was hurt, their security detail told CNN.
Were Meghan and Harry chased by paparazzi? ›In a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday, the couple's office said that the paparazzi's chase to capture photos of Harry and Meghan "resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers." The statement called the incident "near catastrophic."
Were Harry and Meghan really in a car chase? ›More than 25 years on, her son and his wife were pursued through the streets of New York City this week in what their team called a “near catastrophic” car chase.
Was Prince Harry and Meghan in a car accident? ›No, Prince Harry and Meghan were not in a car crash or accident. Neither was harmed, according to police. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard," Phillips said.
Was Prince Harry in a car chase? ›The statement was alarming, unmistakably evocative of the car chase that killed Princess Diana 26 years ago: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan had been “involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” according to an unnamed spokesperson for the couple.
Was Princess Diana followed by paparazzi? ›At the time, in 1997, paparazzi were intent on photographing Diana with her new lover, Dodi Fayed, the son of the immensely rich British businessman of Egyptian origin Mohamed Al-Fayed. In July that year, paparazzi pursued Princess Diana along the coast of Saint-Tropez, and even rented a boat to boost their chances.
Is Prince Harry really a pilot? ›Prince Harry has undertaken two operational tours of Afghanistan, as a Forward Air Controller in 2007/08 and as an Apache Pilot between September 2012 and January 2013.
Did Princess Diana drive a car? ›She preferred to drive her own car, with a member of her security team in the passenger seat. The RS Turbo Series 1 was typically manufactured in white, but she got it in black to be more discreet. Ford also added features for her security, such as a second rear-view mirror for the protection officer.
What car does Harry style drive? ›Harry Styles' Tesla is the long-range version, which offers a range of 315 miles (on the WLTP cycle, 325 miles in the U.S.) and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The car has a top speed of 155 mph.
Who got all of Princess Diana's jewelry? ›After the princess' death, most of her personal jewelry was inherited by her two sons Princes William and Harry, with pieces loaned to her during her lifetime being returned to Queen Elizabeth II, where they are most likely to have been inherited by King Charles in 2022.
Did the royal family like Diana? ›
As TIME pointed out, the royal family had been cool towards Diana even before her divorce from Charles, due to the attention she attracted from the tabloids. While the precise reasons for the coolness are “still ultimately a matter of speculation,” Lacey says, “there was no doubt it was there.
What injuries caused Princess Diana's death? ›According to Oprah magazine, Diana suffered from a concussion, a broken arm, a cut thigh and massive chest injuries. After a two-hour operation to save her, the doctors failed to get Diana's heart to beat properly and she never regained consciousness. She died from internal bleeding at 4:53 a.m. on August 31, 1997.
Is Prince Harry still a soldier? ›Post-military service
In 2021, Harry described his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army as "the happiest times in my life". Since leaving the army, he has been closely involved with the armed forces through the Invictus Games, honorary military appointments and other official engagements.
Prince Harry has described how he “can't ever get out” of the royal family, but he does not believe it will ever be possible for him and the Duchess of Sussex to return to the UK as working royals.
Was Prince Harry a good soldier? ›Prince Harry served bravely and well with the military in Afghanistan. One questions why he chose to announce that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters; it was not just distasteful but also raises the security risk for him and his family. The Duke of Sussex does not glory in the deaths in his leaked memoir, Spare.
Who bought Princess Diana's old car? ›The car was returned to the Ford Motor Company in May 1988, following Diana's untimely death, with 6,800 miles on the odometer. Geoff King, manager of Ford's Government Sales department, then bought it for his wife.
What were Princess Diana's last words? ›Before she was taken out of the car, he held her hand and comforted her. "My God, what's happened," Diana then asked him, in what proved to be her final words. "I massaged her heart and a few seconds later she started breathing again.
How did Charles react to Diana's death? ›King Charles III's reaction to the death of his former wife Princess Diana in 1997 reportedly shocked royal aides, with an expert claiming that he 'collapsed' and cried uncontrollably despite his differences with Diana.
What cars does Prince Harry own? ›He has been seen with sportier Audi models in recent years, including the Audi S3, Audi RS5 and RS6. Much like Harry, Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, have all embraced the German carmaker.
What car did Harry and Meghan drive away in? ›Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Drove a Vintage Jaguar E-Type to Their Wedding Reception. It was first produced in 1968 and has been converted to run on electric power.
Where is the Harry Potter car? ›
In 1963 the production line was moved from Dagenham to a new factory at Halewood on Merseyside. This Anglia was used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was stolen in 2005 but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves probably due to the media interest surrounding the car.
Did Prince ever drive a car? ›Grand Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep was Prince's most understated and sensible car. Maybe people did not see him driving it around much but it sure was a part of his diverse collection.
Prince Harry, left, and Ivan Castro touch the pole as they and their fellow adventurers reach the South Pole as part of their Walking With the Wounded charity trek on Friday, December 13, in Antarctica.
How many cars did Prince own? ›According to probate records, he owned 14 cars, 3 motorcycles, and one bus at the time of his death.
What car does Prince Edward drive? ›Prince Edward: Fan of the Ferrari
Like other members of the family, Prince Edward seems to have a soft spot for Range Rovers. His 10-year-old son was photographed behind the wheel of a Range Rover Discovery.
The Sultan of Brunei's Unbelievable Car Collection From The Bugatti EB110 to a Bentley Buccaneer. The world's biggest car collection – an estimated 7,000 cars worth more than $5bn – is owned by the secretive Sultan of Brunei.
Who is the richest Prince in the world with cars? ›The Sultan of Brunei cars proves he is the world's richest royal according to Forbes, which oddly doesn't list him in the top billionaires of the world, but it's safe to say that Sultan Brunei has a net worth of $20 billion, give or take $500 million.
Do the royals drive themselves? ›And it isn't just the younger members of the royal family who use driving as a way to maintain a sense of independence. Even at 92, Queen Elizabeth is known to get behind the wheel on occasion. "The Queen in her 90s is still driving.
Why did Prince Harry walk away? ›That toxic dynamic, according to Harry, catalyzed their departure: The Sussexes were crumbling under incessant negative media coverage that included an intimate letter between Meghan and her estranged father published in The Daily Mail. (The duchess even began to have suicidal thoughts.)
Who helped Harry and Meghan leave? ›Now the Prince Harry and Meghan's docuseries have dropped on Netflix, and we hear the name coming up: Tyler Perry, a close friend of the royal couple helping them at the last minute by offering them his US home.
Who was walking with Prince Harry at the funeral? ›
Queen Elizabeth's eldest grandchild solemnly strode beside his cousin Prince Harry from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, where the state funeral for their grandmother commenced at 11 a.m. local time. Peter, 44, walked to the left of Harry, 38, who was next to Prince William.
How many cars does Buckingham Palace have? ›There are currently five State Cars: two Bentleys and three Rolls-Royces. They have been used when the monarch is travelling abroad, and are also made available for heads of state visiting the UK, as well as for use by senior members of the Royal Family on official duties.
How many homes does Prince own? ›He protected that privacy by purchasing property -- property that was close to places he frequented, much of it in Carver County and not far from Paisley Park. Prince owned 16 properties in Carver County worth more than $32 million dollars. Paisley Park is worth $7 million dollars alone.
Did Prince ever ride a motorcycle? ›The godfather of funk, rock and jazz apparently rode the chopped and modified 1981 Honda CB400A Hondamatic quite often around the streets of his home town Minneapolis. It was a two-speed automatic, so he didn't need to exercise his finger-fretting hand with a clutch.
What kind of car does Kate drive? ›Explaining how Kate moved onto a newer vehicle, Louis added: "However, Kate's historic interest in Audi has evidently inspired the royal couple's car purchases. “They now own the only non-British car in the entire Royal fleet - an Audi R8 supercar.
What kind of car does Meghan Markle drive? ›As a former member of the Royal Family, Meghan Markle hasn't always chauffeured—she drove an Audi Q5 and now drives a Range Rover. How to tackle car insurance shopping (and save money!)
Why is the Queen's hearse a Mercedes? ›The hearse itself was built by German coachbuilder Binz, as reported by Drive.com.au. The model in question, a Binz H4, is based on the W212-generation Mercedes E-Class, built from 2009 to 2016.