Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, were trailed in their car by photographers as they left a New York City charity event Tuesday night, briefly taking refuge at a police station before being whisked away in a yellow taxicab.
The pursuit and media frenzy evoked memories of the 1997 car chase through Paris that killed HarryB次元官网网址檚 mother, Princess Diana B次元官网网址� though in this case, police said, no one was hurt.
The royal couple set off alarms when their spokesperson claimed Wednesday that they had been dangerously pursued by paparazzi in a B次元官网网址渘ear catastrophic car chaseB次元官网网址� through the streets of Manhattan. That account led New York City Mayor Eric Adams to condemn the paparazzi chasing them as B次元官网网址渞eckless and irresponsible.B次元官网网址�
Later, though, police said the pursuit was relatively short and led to no injuries, collisions or arrests, and warranted no further investigation. Still, it drove home real security concerns surrounding the royal couple and the trauma brought on by the death of HarryB次元官网网址檚 mother when he was just 12 years old.
The cab driver who drove them from the police station said he instantly recognized his passengers and that paparazzi B次元官网网址渨ere following us the whole time,B次元官网网址� though he said wouldnB次元官网网址檛 call it a chase.
B次元官网网址淭hey had this look on their faces,B次元官网网址� the driver, Sukhcharn Singh, said. B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden paparazzi came out and started taking pictures.B次元官网网址�
Police issued a short statement confirming an incident Tuesday night involving photographers and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were accompanied by MeghanB次元官网网址檚 mother.
In video posted to social media, the couple is seen leaving ManhattanB次元官网网址檚 Ziegfeld Ballroom B次元官网网址� where Meghan had just accepted the Ms. FoundationB次元官网网址檚 Woman of Vision Awards with Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown B次元官网网址� and getting into an SUV as crowds of pedestrians and photographers gawked.
Harry and MeghanB次元官网网址檚 vehicle was then followed by photographers in a scene that their office said B次元官网网址渞esulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.B次元官网网址� The coupleB次元官网网址檚 office called the incident B次元官网网址渘ear catastrophic.B次元官网网址�
Police intervened and, assisting the coupleB次元官网网址檚 private security detail, led them to a police station about 18 blocks from the ballroom, a law enforcement official told the AP.
The couple spent several minutes at the police station, waiting for the situation to de-escalate. Once it was safe, they left in a taxi, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and did so on condition of anonymity.
B次元官网网址淲hile being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyoneB次元官网网址檚 safety,B次元官网网址� the coupleB次元官网网址檚 office said in a statement.
The award presentation was MeghanB次元官网网址檚 first public appearance since she skipped the coronation of her father-in-law King Charles III earlier this month in order to stay at home in California for her son Prince ArchieB次元官网网址檚 fourth birthday. Harry attended the coronation.
The gala kicked off the Ms. FoundationB次元官网网址檚 largest fundraising campaign ever B次元官网网址� $100 million over the next 12 months B次元官网网址� that will be used to further the organizationB次元官网网址檚 equity-centered initiatives and its mission of advancing womenB次元官网网址檚 collective power.
With her mother, Doria Ragland, in the audience, Meghan recounted how Ms. Magazine was always in their house and how it affected her world view.
B次元官网网址淚t allowed me to recognize that part of my greater value and purpose in life was to advocate for those who felt unheard, to stand up to injustice, and to not be afraid of saying what is true and what is just and what is right,B次元官网网址� she said, looking over at Ms. Foundation co-founder Gloria Steinem.
In a statement, the Ms. Foundation said it was B次元官网网址渁bsolutely horrifiedB次元官网网址� about what happened and that B次元官网网址淓veryone, especially the media, must do better.B次元官网网址�
Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, and the former actress Meghan Markle married at Windsor Castle in 2018. They stepped down as working royals in 2020, citing what they described as the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
HarryB次元官网网址檚 fury at the media has been building for years. He blames an overly aggressive press for the death of his mother, and also accuses the media of hounding Meghan.
B次元官网网址淢y deepest fear is history repeating itself,B次元官网网址� Harry said in a 2019 statement when Meghan filed suit against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday.
Harry has made it his mission to reform the press and is currently suing three British tabloid publishers over alleged phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. Meghan won an invasion of privacy case in 2021 against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Security for Harry and Meghan has been an issue since the British government stripped them of protection when they moved to California in 2020 and it figures in three of his legal cases against the government and tabloid press.
The pursuit in New York occurred the same day a lawyer for Harry argued in a London court that he should be able to challenge a government decision denying him the right to pay police for his own security in the U.K.
Harry has argued his safety was B次元官网网址渃ompromised due to the absence of police protectionB次元官网网址� during a short visit to the U.K. in July 2021, when his car was chased by photographers as he left a charity event.
The couple have said they funded their own security after former President Donald Trump said the U.S. government wouldnB次元官网网址檛 pay to protect them.
Singh, the cab driver, said it was one of the coupleB次元官网网址檚 private security guards who flagged him down as he drove on 67th Street near the police station. Singh pulled the yellow taxi to the curb and in came Harry, Meghan and her mother.
The royals were about to give their destination when a garbage truck blocked their path, Singh said. Instead, one of them told him to circle back to the precinct.
A video posted by TMZ showed the couple in a yellow cab stuck in traffic several blocks away from the ballroom, as photographers recorded them through the windows. The cab was being escorted by NYPD vehicles with flashing lights.
B次元官网网址淭hey didnB次元官网网址檛 say much,B次元官网网址� Singh said. B次元官网网址淭hey just asked my name and then after that Harry said thanks and have a good day.B次元官网网址�
They paid $17 in fare B次元官网网址� and left a generous tip.
B次元官网网址淚t was pretty good man,B次元官网网址� Singh told the AP. B次元官网网址淭hey gave me a $50.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 mean, when IB次元官网网址檓 going around the block thatB次元官网网址檚 more than enough.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擬ichael R. Sisak, Bobby Caina Calvan And Danica Kirka, The Associated Press
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