Prince Harry and Meghan involved in 'near catastrophic' car chase with paparazzi

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex were involved in a "near catastrophic" car chase, according to his spokesperson. 

The couple - who had attended the Ms Foundation for Women's annual gala in New York - were in a car with Meghan's mother after the event as they were allegedly being followed by paparazzi. 

Harry's representative said: "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." 

They added: "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." 

The NYPD also released a statement in which they claim that "no arrests" have been made following the incident, nor was anyone at the scene injured. 

In a statement, police said: "Tuesday 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 of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries or arrests in regard." 

Just hours after the incident occurred, an insider claimed that the couple and Meghan's mother were still "very upset" over what was called a "near catastrophic" incident. 

A source told UsWeekly: "They were all terrified throughout the whole ordeal. Everyone is still very upset." 

Meghan - who tied the knot with Harry in 2018 and later stepped down from royal duties along with her husband in 2020 as they sought a new life in LA - received a Woman of Vision Award at the ceremony, and she urged other women to continue their fight for equality. 

She said: "It's never too late to start. You can be the visionary of your own life... There is still so much work to be done." 

Harry was recently seen at his father King Charles' coronation ceremony earlier this month, flying in but heading back to Los Angeles just hours later to celebrate his son Archie's fourth birthday. 

In 1997, Harry's mother Princess Diana died in a high-speed chase as she tried to flee paparazzi in Paris, France. 

The Duke of Sussex has spoken at length about his mother's death and his anger at the press, while before the 2007 Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris he asked his driver to take him through the tunnel where she died. 

He wrote in his memoir 'Spare': "The World Cup provided me with a driver, and on my first night in the City of Light I asked him if he knew the tunnel where my mother… 

"I watched his eyes in the rearview, growing large. The tunnel is called Pont de l’Alma, I told him. Yes, yes. He knew it.”

- Bang! Showbiz