NYC mayor doubts Harry and Meghan's 'near-fatal' NYC paparazzi chase lasted two hours

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are “extremely upset and shaken” after being subjected to a “near-catastrophic” paparazzi chase in New York City metropolitan area that lasted as long as two hours, Tuesday night.

The New York Police Department has since confirmed the incident, but said there were no injuries or fatalities, and Mayor Eric Adams has said it is “hard to believe” the chase lasted two hours.

The New York Police Department said there were no injuries or fatalities.

“On Wednesday evening, May 16, the NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries or arrests in regard,” the NYPD said in a statement.

Mayor Adams expressed his doubts during a live press conference.

“A 10 minute chase is extremely dangerous in New York City… police do it when necessary… but to do it because you want to get a shot can turn out to be a case where people are harmed,” Adams said.

According to spokespersons of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were driving with Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, were chased by paparazzi cameramen after they left the Ziegfeld Theater in the Broadway area of Manhattan where the Ragland was being honored at the Women of Vision Awards by Gloria Steinem.

The former royals left the theater with Ragland in an sports utility vehicle at about 10 p.m.  

Soon, the trio became concerned when they say they realized they were being trailed by a dozen paparazzi. As a last ditch escape plan, the three abandoned their SUV and took shelter in a NYC Yellow Cab, hoping to fool the paparazzi.  

One source who spoke to the New York Post said they saw a paparazzi photographer strike another vehicle while another almost struck a New York police officer in what became a “near-fatal” chase.

“It started off with 12 paparazzi, then ended up with four chasing [the trio],” the insider tells us. “Their security tried their best to lose [the paparazzi].”

The purported incident is eerily reminiscent of the fate that Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana of Spencer suffered when she was killed in a Paris tunnel during a paparazzi chase in 1997.

Harry record the chase with his cellphone once the three were safe in a cab in an effort to record evidence.

While some paparazzi were haltedby uniformed police officers, others ignored warnings and continued chasing the three.

A rep for the Sussexes claimed to the New York Post’s Page Six Wednesday:

“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.

“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.”

A New York Post source labeled the ordeal as “absolutely shocking… Everyone is still upset, to say the least. It was horrific.”

The chase took place hours after Harry was told he could not hire British police are amid his legal battle with his home government in a battle that has unfolded about his security.

According to the British Home Office, paying for police protection would create a situation in which “wealthy individuals could ‘buy’ Protective Security from specialist police officers,” a scenario the United Kingdom found inappropriate.

Prince Harry lost his personal U.K. bodyguards after he were stopped working as a royal in 2020, the year he and Meghan left Britain for California.

The prince has since argued it would be potentially dangerous for him to return to England with his family without law enforcement protection. Since then, Meghan has hired Kim Kardashian’s former security specialist. The American native stayed home to celebrate her son’s birthday while her husband traveled to Britain for King Charles III’s coronation.