Harry’s spokesperson said Britain’s Prince Harry, his wife Meghan, and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase with press photographers after attending an awards ceremony.
The spokesperson said the incident involved “a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi” in 6 cars with tinted windows, driving dangerously and putting the lives of the couple and Doria Ragland in danger.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers,” the spokesperson made known to the public.
The NYPD, which said it had assisted the private security team protecting them, made the incident sound less serious.
“There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging,” Julian Phillips, the NYPD’s chief spokesperson, said in a statement. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests.”
Sukhcharn Singh, a taxi driver, said he drove the group and a security guard for around 10 minutes before returning to the police station he had picked them up from at the security guard’s request.
“I don’t think I would call it a chase,” Singh was quoted as saying, adding that two vehicles had followed them and come next to the car, taking pictures and filming.
“I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. They (the couple) were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York — it’s safe.”
Media reported that the couple had switched to the taxi to try and shake off the photographers after the car they left the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan was pursued.
The couple’s spokesperson said the chase on Tuesday could also have been fatal and involved paparazzi driving on the sidewalk, running red lights, and driving while taking pictures.
Those involved were confronted by police officers multiple times, according to the spokesperson.
One of the members of the couple’s security team, Chris Sanchez, said he was worried members of the public could have been hurt.
“I have never seen, or experienced anything like this,” he said. “What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles.”
Eric Adams, Mayor of New York, said he was informed that two NYPD officers could have been injured in the incident.
“I don’t think there’s many of us who don’t recall how, how his mom died,” Adams told reporters. “And it would be horrific to lose an innocent bystander during a chase like this and something to have happened to them as well.”
“If it’s 10 minutes, a 10-minute chase is extremely dangerous in New York City,” Adams said.
“Everyone, especially the media, must do better,” the statement said.
Buckingham Palace said they had no comment.
Prince Harry is also seeking to overturn a decision by the British government to take away his specialist police protection when he is in Britain.
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