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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are “extremely upset and shaken” after being involved in a “near-catastrophic” paparazzi chase in NYC.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were traveling with Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland, were frighteningly pursued by photographers after leaving the Ziegfeld Theater — where the former actress was honored by Gloria Steinem at the Women of Vision Awards — in Manhattan on Tuesday night.
The trio left the event in an SUV at around 10 p.m., and were immediately followed by around 12 paparazzi, we’re told.
A source claims that one cameraman hit a car, while another almost ran over a NYPD officer, during the “near-fatal” chase.
“It started off with 12 paparazzi then ended up with four chasing [Meghan, Harry and Doria],” the insider tells us. “Their security tried their best to lose [photographers].”
Once in the taxi, the duke used his cell phone to record the ensuing melee.
We’re told security was also recording to gather evidence.
Paparazzi were confronted by uniformed police officers, but ignored warnings and continued chasing the trio, we hear.
A rep for the Sussexes told 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.”
Our source calls the incident “absolutely shocking” and says Ragland, who is 66 years old, was particularly “terrified” by the ordeal.
“Everyone is still upset, to say the least. It was horrific,” the source tells us.
We hear the “Suits” alum, her mother and her husband are still in NYC following the harrowing occurrence.
It is unclear when they will be heading back to their home in California, where they live with 4-year-old son Prince Archie and 1-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet.
The incident occurred hours after Harry was told that UK police are not for hire amid his legal battle with UK government regarding security for him and his family.
The offer to pay for his police protection would create a situation where “wealthy individuals could ‘buy’ Protective Security from specialist police officers,” according to the UK Home Office.
The Duke of Sussex’s police bodyguards were removed after he stopped being a working royal in 2020, the year he and his wife left England for a new life in the US.
Since then, he has argued it is not safe for him to return to the UK with his family without police protection.
More must-see royals coverage:
- How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met
- Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship timeline
- Royal family tree and line of succession
Harry recently traveled to his home country solo for dad King Charles III’s coronation.
Markle decided to skip the event, choosing instead to stay in California to celebrate Archie’s birthday.
Harry has frequently spoken of his heartbreak over the untimely death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash at age 36 after being chased by paparazzi in Paris.
In 2019’s ITV documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,” the estranged royal told reporter Tom Bradby that he thinks of his late mom every time a camera flashes.
“Being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back,” Harry confessed.
He poignantly added, “So in that respect, it’s the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best.”
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