Prince Harry and his wife Meghan claim they were involved in a high-speed car chase in New York City after leaving the Ms. Foundation For Women’s annual gala.
Around half-a-dozen paparazzi cars reportedly chased the couple after they left the Ziegfeld Ballroom in a “relentless pursuit” for over two hours, resulting in near collisions with other drivers and pedestrians. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was in the car with them.
According to The Telegraph, Harry and Meghan were heading back to a friend’s house before they were forced into two different police stations in their attempt to shake off the pursuers. There are varying accounts of what exactly happened after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the Zeigield Ballroom. Some reports suggest that the couple – with Meghan’s mother – switched cars from their own SUV into a New York taxi. The taxi driver who reportedly picked them up told LBC Radio that: “It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie.”
In a statement, the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that an incident took place and said that numerous photographers “made their [Harry and Meghan’s] transport challenging”. According to the BBC, there are claims the chase involved half a dozen cars, with reckless driving including going through red lights, driving on the pavement, carrying out blocking moves, and reversing down a one way-way street – as well as taking photographs while driving.
The New York Times reported that, at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mayor Eric Adams voiced some scepticism about the car chase: “I would find it hard to believe that there was a two-hour high speed chase.” Adams added that even a 10-minute chase in congested New York would be “extremely dangerous”.
A spokesperson for the couple said: “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.”
As the Duchess of Sussex was accepting her award honoring inspiring women, on the other side of the States at their Northern California home in Montecito, a man was arrested for stalking.
Prince Harry has long been outspoken on the issue of paparazzi and press intrusion into his private life and blames it on the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in 1997.
Write to us with your comments to be considered for publication at letters@reaction.life
