Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Photo:James Devaney/GC Images
James Devaney/GC Images
Meghan MarkleandPrince Harry’s spokesperson has commented on theircar chasein New York City.
In conversation withThe New York Times, Ashley Hansen denounced the notion that the May 16 incident was exaggerated.
“Respectfully, considering the duke’s family history, one would have to think nothing of the couple or anybody associated with them to believe this was any sort of P.R. stunt,” Hansen said in an interview last Friday. “Quite frankly, I think that’s abhorrent.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The next day, a spokesperson for Meghan and Prince Harry said the trio was trailed so aggressively it created a “near catastrophic car chase.” The news drew parallels to the death of Prince Harry’s motherPrincess Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash in Paris that also involved photographers pursuing her vehicle.
“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. This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers,” a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement to PEOPLE on May 17. “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. Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved.”
Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
“The NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging,” the statement said. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”
Some cast doubt on what transpired that night, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Taxi driver Sukhcharn Singh, who drove Meghan, Prince Harry, 38, and Doria, 66, at one point during the evening, toldThe Washington Post, “I don’t think I would call it a chase. I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. They were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York — it’s safe.”
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The New York Timesgot in touch with event photographers for perspective, “a few” of whom were at the Women of Vision Awards. One said he chased Harry and Meghan that night but declined to share further information.
While speaking to theTimes, Prince Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson debunked the idea that it was fair for photographers to follow them because they couldn’t get shots of them leaving the awards, and pointed to pictures as proof.
“They were some of the most beautiful images of the evening,” Hansen said.
source: people.com
