Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase while being followed by paparazzi in New York on Tuesday, the couple’s spokesperson said. The incident occurred as they left an event where Ms. Markle received the Ms Foundation’s Women of Vision Award in recognition of her “global advocacy to empower and advocate on behalf of women and girls”. The couple had been accompanied by Ms. Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland.
According to the statement released by a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan, the event involving the three was disrupted by “a relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours.” They were followed by a group of paparazzi comprising half a dozen blacked-out vehicles that recklessly endangered their convoy and the people around them. The statement revealed that the pursuit resulted in multiple collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers.
The statement emphasized that being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public but should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety. It also criticized the dissemination of the images given the way they were obtained, which encourages a highly intrusive and dangerous practice. Harry, Meghan, and Ms. Ragland had reportedly been staying at a private residence, and they did not want the pursuit to compromise the security of their friend’s home.
While the couple accepts a heightened level of attention when they are at public events, they exited and entered the venue publicly, allowing photographers to get pictures. The pursuit is said to have involved a series of traffic violations, including driving on the pavement and through red lights, reversing down a one-way street, illegally blocking a moving vehicle and driving while photographing and while on the phone.
Uniformed police reportedly confronted those involved in the pursuit multiple times, but they continued with their reckless actions. There is also security footage and other evidence to support these allegations. The PA news agency has contacted the NYPD for comment.
The incident occurred as Harry seeks a second legal challenge against the British Home Office over his security arrangements when in the UK. Harry is seeking permission from the High Court to secure a judicial review over a decision that he should not be allowed to pay privately for his protective security. The early stage legal action is among five other civil cases that Harry is pursuing through the court in London.
Harry is also bringing a contested claim against Mirror Group Newspapers over allegations of unlawful information gathering. He is awaiting rulings over whether similar cases against publishers Associated Newspapers Limited and News Group Newspapers can continue. He is also waiting for a judgment over his libel claim against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, over an article on his case against the Home Office.
The incident is a reminder of the dangers associated with the paparazzi culture. Paparazzi have long been criticized for their aggressive pursuit of celebrities and their disregard for public safety. In 1997, Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris while being chased by paparazzi. The incident led to significant changes in the paparazzi culture. However, such pursuits continue to occur, putting the public at risk.
