Harry and Meghan – latest news: US photo agency mocks couple for ‘royal prerogative’ picture demands

The alleged car chase involving the royal couple is said to have lasted over two hours through the streets of New York

Meghan and Harry's taxi driver speaks out after 'chase'

Rishi Sunak has said “cars in New York are not really my priority” after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s team said they avoided a “near catastrophic car chase” in the US city.

Harry and Meghan were followed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with the duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, according to a spokesman for the couple.

The New York Police Department said there were no arrests, injuries or reported collisions but said “numerous photographers” had “made their transport difficult” on Tuesday evening.

The Prime Minister said he was “not aware of a particular incident in question” and sought to discuss his domestic policies during an interview with the BBC in Japan, where he is attending a G7 summit.

Pressed if he has sympathy with a possible invasion of privacy or safety, Mr Sunak said: “I think just as all of us do, we want to make sure that we go about our day-to-day lives in safety and security.

Key Points

• Sunak focusing on UK safety rather than Harry and Meghan NY ‘car chase'
• Photo agency mocks Harry and Meghan, refusing to hand over pictures
• New York Police Department (NYPD) full statement
• Royal fans claim paparazzi ‘learned nothing from Diana’ after Meghan and Harry involved in car chase
• Harry and Meghan in ‘near catastrophic car chase’ involving paparazzi

[18 May 2023 16:34 · Emily Atkinson]

A timeline of Harry and Meghan’s ‘two-hour car chase’ in New York

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Raglandwere trailed in their car by paparazzi for over two hours after they left a New York City charity event on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for the royals claimed that they had been pursued by paparazzi in a “near catastrophic car chase“ through the streets of Manhattan.

“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 said in a statement.

Here is Alisha Rahaman Sarkar with a timeline of the events:

[18 May 2023 17:29 · Emily Atkinson]

Harry and Meghan paparazzi claim royals ‘not in danger’ during ‘chase’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “not in immediate danger at any point” during an alleged two-hour paparazzi car chase that they believed could have been fatal, it has been claimed.

Harry claimed that he and Meghan were subjected to a “near catastrophic” pursuit by photographers after leaving the Ms. Foundation gala in New York with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, on Tuesday night.

But Backgrid USA Inc, the agency that hired four freelance photographers to cover the event, instead insisted that one of the four SUVs escorting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in New York was “driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless”.

Oliver Pritchard-Jones reports:

[18 May 2023 18:30 · Emily Atkinson]

Prince Harry’s ex-bodyguard says current security ‘unaware of dilemmas’

The Duke of Sussex’s former bodyguard has said his current security team lack experience, following a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were followed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with the duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, on Tuesday, the couple’s spokesman said.

There are claims they were subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving six blacked-out vehicles driving recklessly and endangering the convoy and everyone around them.

Ken Wharfe, who used to take Harry to school when he was three years old, said his current security were “unaware of what the dilemmas seem to be”.

(REUTERS)

The former bodyguard told the PA news agency: “There seems to be a lack of chemistry between them and Harry and Meghan.

“The departure from the hotel was chaotic before they began their whacky drive through New York.

“Harry needs to be part of the planning. He knows the dangers better than anyone.

“You (need) a relationship with the people you are protecting. Until that happens things like this will happen again.”

It is said those involved in the incident were confronted by uniformed police several times but continued the pursuit.

It is also said there is security footage and other evidence to support the allegations.

Mr Wharfe added: “There seemed to be no planning happening on that night.

[18 May 2023 19:30 · Emily Atkinson]

Who is Meghan Markle’s mother? Everything to know about Doria Ragland

Over the years, Meghan Markle has been very vocal about her close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland.

On Tuesday, 16 May, the pair were accompanied by Prince Harry as they made their way to Manhattan to attend a charity awards ceremony by the Ms. Foundation for Women, where Meghan was honoured for her work. The royal couple have now claimed that when they left the event, they were followed by the paparazzi for more than two hours.

“Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement released on 17 May.

Amber Raiken has more:

[18 May 2023 20:30 · Emily Atkinson]

Voices: Heckled and harried hours before, Harry and Meghan’s car chase has shocking echoes of Diana

Again and again, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has fought to defang a rampaging media that he believes is insatiable. Again and again he has been mocked, derided and ignored, writes Samuel Fishwick.

Today, if his spokesperson is to be believed, the prince and his wife the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, were involved in an incident with shocking echoes of the tragic car accident that killed his mother Diana in 1997.

[18 May 2023 22:00 · Emily Atkinson]

No near-collisions or near-crashes, say photographers

There were no near-collisions or near-crashes during the alleged car chase involving Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, photographers told celebrity news agency Backgrid USA.

Backgrid USA said it had received photos and videos from four freelance photographers, three who had been in cars and one who was riding a bicycle.

A statement from Backgrid USA said: “They had no intention of causing any distress or harm, as their only tool was their cameras. A few of the photos even show Meghan Markle smiling inside a cab.

“The photographers report that one of the four SUVs from Prince Harry‘s security escort was driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless.

“The vehicle was seen blocking off streets, and in one video, it is shown being pulled over by the police.”

[18 May 2023 23:30 · Emily Atkinson]

ICYMI: Prince Harry’s security ‘should have been properly stage managed’, says Diana’s former bodyguard

[19 May 2023 01:00 · Emily Atkinson]

Watch: New York mayor condemns 'reckless' paparazzi over Harry and Meghan 'car chase'

[19 May 2023 02:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Who is Meghan Markle’s mother? Everything to know about Doria Ragland

Over the years, Meghan Markle has been very vocal about her close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland.

From her career to her relationship with Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from the royal family in 2020, here’s everything to know about Doria Ragland.

[19 May 2023 02:30 · Emily Atkinson]

Harry and Meghan ‘not contacted by royal family’ after car chase in New York

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been contacted by the royal family after claiming to have been involved in a “near-catastrophic” car chase.

Harry and Meghan were followed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with the duchess’s mother Doria Ragland in New York on Tuesday, the couple’s spokesperson said.

Despite claims the three of them were subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving half a dozen blacked-out vehicles, the PA news agency reports no members of the royal family had reached out to the couple as of 10pm on Wednesday.

More on this story here: