In May 2023, what should have been an uneventful evening for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle turned into a tense episode that brought back painful memories for the Duke of Sussex. While returning from an awards event in Manhattan, accompanied by Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, the couple claimed they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” orchestrated by “highly aggressive paparazzi.” The incident reportedly lasted over two hours, a claim that, given Manhattan’s notorious traffic, raised eyebrows and sparked debate.
The alleged car chase, described by Harry as an immediate and dangerous situation, echoed the trauma of his mother, Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in 1997. Understandably, the incident hit a nerve for Harry, fueling his insistence on accountability. However, perspectives on the night differ sharply. New York Mayor Eric Adams called Harry’s story “hard to believe,” and Sukhcharn Singh, the taxi driver who briefly drove the Sussexes that night, painted a less dramatic picture. Singh recounted the paparazzi following and taking photos but said he “never felt in danger,” likening the experience more to a stressful paparazzi encounter than a cinematic high-speed chase.
Unwilling to leave the matter unresolved, Harry pushed for answers from the NYPD. His security team, TorchStone, accused the department of dragging its feet and hinted at a cover-up. After initial correspondence dismissed the possibility of pressing charges due to insufficient evidence, a follow-up three months later suggested there might indeed be a case. Frustrated by the lack of clarity, Harry’s team threatened to escalate the matter to California’s governor and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
For Harry, this was more than a chaotic night. The shadows of Diana’s tragic death loom large, and the parallels—paparazzi chasing a car carrying a royal—would be impossible for him to ignore. His reaction, described by some as obsessive, stems from a deeply personal determination to prevent history from repeating itself.
Yet, public opinion remains as divided as Manhattan’s streets. Was the situation a dangerous ordeal or an overblown claim? Singh’s account suggests the reality may lie somewhere in between—a stressful encounter amplified by Harry’s trauma and protective instincts.
Regardless of whether the event was as perilous as described, it highlighted a broader issue: the relentless pursuit of public figures by the paparazzi. For Harry, this wasn’t just about protecting Meghan and himself—it was about challenging a destructive pattern that cost him his mother. As the narrative continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Harry remains committed to ensuring the cycle of reckless pursuit doesn’t claim another life.