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NEW YORK (AP) - - Prince Harry and his spouse, Meghan, were pursued in their cars and truck by photographers after a fundraiser in
New York, an occurrence that the mayor and the couple's office described Wednesday as possibly hazardous and stirred memories of the 1997 car crash that eliminated Harry's mother, Princess Diana.
With the assistance of police, the couple was eventually able to change to a taxi cab and be blended away, according to a law enforcement official who was not licensed to speak publicly about the matter and did so on condition of privacy.
The cab driver, Sukhcharn Singh, informed The Associated Press that he immediately recognized his passengers when they scooted in. "They were following us the whole time," he said of the paparazzi, though he said he would not call it a chase.
The
New York City authorities department confirmed the event involving photographers and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex however stated no injuries, collision or arrests happened after Meghan accepted an award from the Ms. Foundation.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told reporters he hadn't gotten a complete briefing yet, however he called it "reckless and irresponsible" for anyone to be going after individuals in vehicles in the densely populated city, and said 2 officers might have been injured.
Harry and Meghan's office stated in a declaration that the chase "resulted in several near collisions involving other drivers on the roadway, pedestrians and 2 NYPD officers." It called the occurrence "near catastrophic."
" While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it needs to never come at the expense of anyone's safety," the declaration from the couple said.
Harry, the younger child of King Charles III, and the former starlet Meghan Markle wed at Windsor Castle in 2018. They stepped down as working royals in 2020, mentioning what they described as the excruciating intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
Harry's fury at the media has actually been developing for several years. He blames an overly aggressive press for the death of his mom, and likewise accuses the media of pestering Meghan.
" My deepest fear is history repeating itself," Harry said in a 2019 declaration when Meghan submitted suit against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday.
He has made it his objective to reform the press and is presently suing three British tabloid publishers over alleged phone hacking and other illegal sleuthing. Meghan won an intrusion of personal privacy case in 2021 against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Security for Harry and Meghan has been an issue because the British federal government removed them of defense when they transferred to California in 2020 and it figures in 3 of his legal cases against the federal government and tabloid press.
The pursuit in
New York occurred the very same day a legal representative for Harry argued in a London court that he need to be able to challenge a federal government decision rejecting him the right to pay authorities for his own security in the U.K.
Harry has argued his security was "jeopardized due to the lack of cops security" during a short see to the U.K. in July 2021, when his automobile was gone after by photographers as he left a charity event.
The couple have actually stated they funded their own security after previous President Donald Trump said the U.S. federal government would not pay to protect them.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, had been in
New York to accept the Women of Vision Award with Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown.
The gala began the Ms. Foundation's biggest fundraising project ever - -$ 100 million over the next 12 months - - that will be utilized to advance the organization's equity-centered initiatives and its objective of advancing women's collective power.
With her mother, Doria Ragland, in the audience, Meghan stated how Ms. Magazine was constantly in their home and how it impacted her world view.
" It permitted me to recognize that part of my greater value and purpose in life was to advocate for those who felt unheard, to withstand oppression, and to not be afraid of stating what holds true and what is just and what is right," she stated, looking over at Ms. Foundation co-founder Gloria Steinem.
The occasion was Meghan's first public appearance since she skipped the coronation of her father-in-law King Charles III earlier this month in order to remain at house in California for her child Prince Archie's 4th birthday. Harry attended the crowning.
Video taken by bystanders and published on social networks revealed Harry and Meghan leaving Manhattan's Ziegfeld Ballroom and entering into an SUV as crowds of professional photographers and pedestrians glared.
They were followed by photographers and, assisted by police officers helping their private security information, went to a police station about 18 blocks away. They spent numerous minutes there waiting on the situation to de-escalate and, once it was safe, left in a yellow taxi cab, according to the law enforcement official.
Singh, the cab driver, was on 67th Street near an NYPD precinct when a security guard waved him down. Singh pulled the yellow taxi to the curb and in came Harry, Meghan and her mama.
" They had this search their faces," he stated. When a garbage truck blocked their course, they were about to provide their location.
" All of an abrupt paparazzi came out and began taking images," he stated.
Instead, one of the royals told him to circle back to the precinct.
A video posted by TMZ revealed the couple in a yellow cab stuck in traffic numerous blocks away from the ballroom, as professional photographers recorded them through the windows. The cab was being accompanied by NYPD cars with flashing lights.
" They didn't state much," Singh said. "They simply asked my name and after that after that Harry said thanks and have a great day."
They paid $17 in fare - - and left a generous idea.
" It was pretty good man," Singh informed The Associated Press. "They offered me a $50.".
" I suggest, when I'm going around the block that's sufficient.".
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Kirka reported from London; Jill Lawless and Brian Melley in London contributed. Julie Walker and scientist Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
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