The Truth Behind Harry And Meghan’s Recent Car Chase

1. It was described as a 'frightening' and 'reckless' pursuit

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The current security chief of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has revealed that the pair were recently chased through New York City by paparazzi in a pursuit that was extremely frightening for the ex-royals and very reckless by the group of photographers.

2. Harry & Meghan were visibly shaken

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Sources, including the security, the taxi driver, and Duke and Duchess themselves, said that they were extremely shaken after the pursuit.  The taxi driver, Sukcharn Singh told the press that the pair were visibly scared during the pursuit through New York City.

3. It was described as 'near catastrophic'

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In a recent statement released by the spokesperson for Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who was in the car with them at the time, they told the press that they had been in a "near catastrophic" car chase after being followed by paparazzi.

4. It lasted two hours

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In the same statement, they also revealed that the "near catastrophic" car chase was absolutely relentless.  So much so, they said that the "aggressive" pursuit lasted well over two hours, with security occasionally stopping the convoy to tell the paparazzi to cease.

5. They were pursued by 'highly aggressive paparazzi'

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The spokesperson also revealed in the statement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and her mother, Doria Ragland were chased by 'highly aggressive paparazzi' with the pursuit resulting in multiple near collisions with other drivers on the road, as well as with other pedestrians in the area.

6. The paparazzi were in blacked-out vehicles

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Reportedly, the 'aggressive' and 'reckless' paparazzi chased the vehicle that Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Doria Ragland, were traveling in, in blacked-out vehicles and these 'frightening' vehicles were also driven by unidentified people unknown to them.

7. They reportedly jumped red lights and drove on pavements

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The blacked-out vehicles with unidentified drivers that were reportedly chasing the ex-royals and Meghan's mother were also said to be driving dangerously and recklessly.  The vehicles are said to have almost collided with other cars and pedestrians because they were jumping red lights and driving on the pavements too.

8. At least one driver was allegedly on the phone behind the wheel

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It has also been reported that at least one of the drivers of the blacked-out vehicles was on the phone whilst they were driving 'recklessly'.  Reports and statements also suggest that the photographers were also taking photographs while they were driving too, adding to the danger they posed to the ex-royals and to the public.

9. It happened after an awards ceremony

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her mother, Doria Ragland, were on their way back to where they were staying after they had attended an awards ceremony at the Ziegfield Ballroom in New York City when the "catastrophic", "frightening", and "reckless" car chase took place.

10. It was not a high-speed chase

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However, their statement has actually been disputed by a New York Police Department officer who said that the car chase wasn't really a chase at all.  And it wasn't a high-speed chase with multiple near collisions as the ex-royals' spokesperson said.

11. But it did put them in danger

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However, the NYPD official did admit that despite it not being 'near catastrophic' or a high-speed chase in which they were pursued by a 'ring of aggressive paparazzi', they did say that the chase did have the potential to put the royals and Meghan's mother in danger.

12. Their account has been disputed

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The Sussex's statement and account of the events that happen that evening have been disputed by a number of agencies, including the police who confirmed that there had been no arrests or collisions reported.  The taxi driver carrying the three passengers and the picture agency representing the paparazzi also disputed the account too.

13. But it has been confirmed that the photographers drove 'aggressively and badly'

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However, Tom Buda, who is the person who is responsible for the royal pair's transport confirmed that despite it not being a high-speed chase, the photographers were actually driving 'aggressively' and 'badly' and they were attempting to find out where they were going.

14. It brought back memories

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It's no surprise really why the Sussexes were shaken by the events of that evening, given what happened to Harry's mother, Princess Diana, back in 1997 when she was killed in Paris after being pursued by photographers driving recklessly with the purpose of getting the perfect photograph.

15. The picture agency said it didn't mean to cause any harm or distress

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The picture agency responded to the ex-royal's statement, stating that they had no intention of causing any harm or distress to the pair.  In fact, a spokesperson for the photographic agency responsible for the paparazzi that chased them that night denied that their photographers acted aggressively.

16. They said that Price Harry's security escort drove recklessly, not them

Image Source / dailyexpress.co.uk

The photographic agency responsible for the paparazzi that allegedly chased the royals denied Prince Harry and Meghan's claims that they pursued them aggressively and dangerously and explained that it was Prince Harry's security that was driving 'recklessly' and 'erratically'.

17. Prince Harry's security has been criticized for being inexperienced

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A former member of Harry's security team and bodyguard said that the Sussex's security was not sufficiently organized on the evening of the paparazzi pursuit.  They also told a British broadcaster that the team the Sussexes have at the moment is inexperienced and has never dealt with such high-profile celebrities.

18. The taxi driver said he wouldn't call it a 'chase'

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The taxi driver on the evening of the chase also disputes the Duke and Duchess's accounts of what actually happened.  Sukhcharn Singh told the press that he wouldn't have even called the pursuit a 'chase' and said that he felt no danger to him or to the ex-royals at any point.

19. He said the journey with him only lasted around 10 minutes

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Singh picked the trio up outside the 19th precinct and only spent a short time in the car with them.  He told the press that two vehicles followed him and took photographs and filmed them when they stopped.  He also said that the royal pair did seem a little shaken up when they got in his taxi.

20. Two police officers 'could have been injured'

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In the accounts by the spoken person of the Sussexes and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, they described the photographer's vehicles as driving 'recklessly', mounting pavements, and nearly causing collisions.  The statement also described how two NYPD officers were nearly injured too.

21. They arrived at their destination safely

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The taxi driver, Mr Sukhcharn Singh said that his journey with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Doria Ragland only lasted around ten minutes until the Sussex's security called him and asked him to return them to the 19th precinct where he said he dropped them off safely.

22. The NYPD confirmed that there were no reported collisions, injuries, or arrests

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Despite the statement from the Duke and Duchess claiming that there were near collisions and accidents, the New York Police Department confirmed that there were no reported collisions, injuries, or arrests on the evening of the alleged car chase or pursuit.

23. It was Harry & Meghan's first public appearance since the King's coronation

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended an awards ceremony with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, just before the pursuit by the paparazzi that evening.  Their appearance at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City is their first public appearance since the King's (Harry's father) Coronation, so they were sure to get some attention.

24. Buckingham and Kensington Palace have not commented

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Despite the media coverage and the dramatic statement from the Sussexes, there has been no public comment from Buckingham Palace or Kensington Palace.  In fact, since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties, they have not had much public contact with the UK Royal Family.

25. They drove around because they were staying at a friend's home

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The ex-royals said that they were driving around for over two hours before they stopped at the 19th precinct because they were staying over at a friend's property while they were in the city.  And they did not want to lead the paparazzi to where they were staying in order to protect their friend.

26. It's hard to not be reminded of Diana

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The Duke and Duchess's account of the catastrophic car chase with aggressive and reckless paparazzi makes it difficult to not be reminded of the events that led to Harry's mother, Princess Diana's death back in 1997.  It's no surprise that Harry has a strained relationship with the press.

27. Harry has had paparazzi jump on the bonnet of his car before

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Harry and Meghan have had their fair share of harassment by the press and the paparazzi and this makes it clear that despite them being away from the UK Royal Family, there is still a strong media interest in the couple.

28. A man was arrested outside Harry & Meghan's house

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The press and the paparazzi have even been known to hunt them down and hound them at their private residences.  In fact, the Duke and Duchess have experienced multiple security breaches, including when their children have been at home.  And one man was even arrested outside their house.

29. Harry has spoken about his anger toward the press

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Harry has often spoken to the press and in the documentaries that have been made about him about his and his mother's relationships with the press and how they hounded him even as a child.  One of the reasons they moved away from the UK was to escape the British press!

30. He is very protective of his young family

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With memories flooding back all the time of losing his mother, he has spoken passionately about how he doesn't want anything like this to happen again, especially now he shares a young family with Meghan Markle.  It just makes him even more protective of them.