Breaking Down the Details of Harry and Meghan's Near-Catastrophic Car Chase

On Tuesday evening, Harry and Meghan were involved in a "near catastrophic" car chase led by paparazzi photographers, according to a representative for their royal couple. This two-hour pursuit resulted in multiple near collisions between vehicles on the road, pedestrians, and two New York City Police Officers - potentially ending tragically for all parties involved.

The Sussexes attempted to escape paparazzi scrutiny by hiring a yellow taxi and altering their route - but did this work?

What Happened?

Harry and Meghan sought refuge at a New York City police station on Tuesday night after being pursued by paparazzi while trying to leave an awards ceremony hosted by Ms. Foundation at Ziegfeld Ballroom. They had attended Women of Vision awards hosted by Ms. Foundation.

Royals spokesperson told multiple media outlets that as they left an event and attempted to return home, they were pursued relentlessly by an army of paparazzi for over two hours, leading them into several near collisions involving other drivers, pedestrians and at least one NYPD officer according to this relentless pursuit.

Thomas Buda, a private security contractor hired by the couple, reported that paparazzi wanted to determine where Duchess Catherine and her mother were staying in New York. Chasing vehicles drove on sidewalks, jumped red lights and even went the wrong way down one-way streets causing chaos that could have lead to injuries according to sources.

At last, the couple and Ms. Ragland decided to seek refuge at a police precinct for about 15 minutes until the situation had calmed down, before leaving in a yellow taxi cab driven by Sukhcharn Singh who recognized their passengers instantly but would not label what happened as a chase.

Singh explained that paparazzi were following them for at least a block and a half before he picked them up, though once in his vehicle they no longer followed them. Singh believes the whole incident to have been exaggerated, saying he felt secure during their brief ride together in his vehicle.

This incident brings back to mind the 1997 car crash in Paris where Princess Diana died after being chased by paparazzi, due to intense pressure to keep up appearances and public appearances. Furthermore, this highlights security risks Harry and Meghan face while traveling - in fact Prince Harry has filed several court cases alleging illegal collection of information about his family by British journalists.

Why the Pursuit Began

Car chases can quickly turn deadly, as seen this week when Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex allegedly became involved in an alleged two-hour pursuit by "highly aggressive paparazzi" outside an event at Ziegfeld Ballroom, according to their spokesperson. According to this source, their two hour pursuit led to multiple near collisions which required police assistance to end.

TMZ reported that the Sussexes, along with their mother Doria Ragland, were leaving an awards ceremony around 10 pm Tuesday when they were stopped by photographers outside. To avoid paparazzi photographers snapping photos, they entered and exited through a Hertz car rental location instead of through the main entrance of the event.

After leaving the event, they were heading back to a friend's private residence where they would spend the evening and wanted to ensure neither themselves or their companions would put themselves or each other at risk by driving directly there. Instead, they opted for a yellow taxi which several cameras captured their ride in. Sukhcharn Singh told CNN it was surreal experience: he saw "they were both in a rush but also very nervous and scared," flashes going off everywhere, with loud noises going off at various intervals throughout their ride in this yellow taxi ride. Sukhcharn Singh described how nervous they both parties appeared while Sukhcharn said "it was loud with loud noise and flashes going off everywhere".

When the Sussexes entered his vehicle, he immediately recognized them and realized they were being followed by paparazzi. When he told them to move aside, however, they continued driving up behind his vehicle despite his requests to stop doing so; eventually police cars pulled up behind them to block their path onto the sidewalk.

Sources close to the couple reported that their security detail employed various tactics to ward off paparazzi who were driving on sidewalks, blocking traffic, endangering pedestrians and breaking various laws by posing for photos on public streets and refusing to stop when instructed by police officers.

What Happened Next

The Sussexes, Meghan's mother Doria Ragland and other members of their party were pursued for two hours by half a dozen cars after leaving a charity event in New York City Tuesday evening. According to their team, this "aggressive paparazzi ring" caused numerous near collisions - both with other drivers on the road as well as pedestrians and two NYPD officers.

The statement further alleges that photographers had blocked a limousine transporting the couple back to their Upper East Side apartment, leading to chaotic circumstances that could have resulted in deaths; they claim that both parties involved felt scared, exhausted and relieved when finally safely back at home.

As soon as news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement broke, it triggered memories of Princess Diana's tragic death in Paris in 1997 from being hit by a speeding paparazzi car. This event led to multiple conspiracy theories online, with one Twitter user sharing video purporting to show Harry and Meghan staging the late-night encounter themselves. Harry has long blamed tabloid press for her demise, vowing that it never happens again to his own wife.

Now, more than 24 hours later, new details about what really transpired have surfaced. CNN reports that New York City police assisted a couple's private security team when they were pursued by paparazzi after leaving an event at Manhattan's Ziegfeld Ballroom on Tuesday night. According to the statement, no crashes or injuries were sustained during this incident and no arrests were made as part of it. Police reported that drivers in blacked-out vehicles committed a range of traffic offenses, such as driving on sidewalks and through red lights; reversing down one-way streets without permission; taking photos while driving while taking photos and illegally blocking moving vehicles - before eventually returning back to their friend's apartment on Upper East Side without further incidents.

What the Final Words Are

After attending an awards ceremony at Manhattan's Ziegfeld Ballroom - their first since Harry's coronation earlier this month - Meghan, Harry and Ragland were approached by "ring of highly aggressive paparazzi," according to a statement released from his office. Their "relentless pursuit" lasted over two hours and caused near collisions with multiple vehicles on the road, pedestrians, as well as two New York Police Officers according to one spokesperson for their dukedom.

Page Six reports that paparazzi were trailing LaTosha Brown and her partner as they exited Ziegfeld Ballroom where they had been accepting an award for women's social impact alongside LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter. Security for LaTosha Brown may have deliberately deviated off road several times to try and shake the shutterbugs and not reveal where she and her partner were staying; also claims were made about paparazzi blowing red lights or jumping curbs to catch up with them

No one was in imminent danger during this incident or any members of their team were hurt; but it did evoke memories of Diana's death when paparazzi chased her car with her husband, Prince Charles in 1997. According to TMZ's reports, Prince Harry stepped down from his royal duties and moved to America partly due to what he perceived to be intense media harassment; additionally he has voiced his displeasure with press intrusion which caused her death and has expressed it through angerful outbursts like his frequent attacks against media intrusions against his mother's funeral and funeral.

After two hours, police provided assistance to the couple's private security, who led them to a local police station 18 blocks from Ziegfeld Ballroom where they spent about 10 minutes waiting for the situation to calm. A taxi driver who transported them back to their hotel told The Post he instantly recognized them, as paparazzi were following them, yet did not consider this chase an eventful journey.

News of Harry's late night run-in came on the same day his private security firm attorneys appeared in London court to argue for his right to challenge a government ruling that prevents him from hiring public police while visiting Britain.