01/08/2024
The bustling streets of New York City, usually a backdrop for ordinary commutes, became the scene of extraordinary drama on the evening of May 16th. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland found themselves embroiled in what their spokesperson described as a 'near catastrophic car chase' involving aggressive paparazzi and, surprisingly, a quintessential New York yellow cab. This incident, occurring after Meghan received the Ms. Foundation for Women’s 50th-anniversary gala award, has ignited a fierce debate about celebrity privacy, public safety, and the relentless pursuit of a photograph, drawing unsettling parallels to a tragic past.
The evening began with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending a prestigious event at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Having reportedly entered the venue discreetly through a car rental building to avoid photographers, their departure around 10 PM proved far less private. As they left in an SUV, accompanied by a police escort, they were immediately met by a swarm of photographers. What followed, according to the Sussexes' spokesperson, was a 'relentless pursuit' lasting over two hours, involving around a dozen paparazzi vehicles, including cars, motorbikes, and even electric scooters. This initial chase, described as resulting in 'multiple near collisions' with other drivers, pedestrians, and New York Police Department (NYPD) officers, forced their security team to divert to the NYPD’s 19th Precinct on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in a desperate attempt to shake off their pursuers.
The Yellow Cab Dilemma: A Bid for Evasion
Upon arrival at the police precinct, a strategic decision was made to switch vehicles. The intention was to 'fool the paparazzi' by moving the couple from their identifiable SUV into a less conspicuous yellow taxi cab. This is where Sukhcharn Singh, a 37-year-old cabbie known as 'Sonny', entered the narrative. Singh was flagged down by a member of the couple's security detail, and within moments, Harry, Meghan, and Doria Ragland were inside his taxi, with a security guard taking the front passenger seat. However, this seemingly clever manoeuvre quickly backfired. Meghan's bright gold dress, worn for the gala, made her instantly recognisable even within the confines of the taxi, ensuring the paparazzi on scooters and motorbikes could still follow.
Singh recounted his brief, yet eventful, journey with the royals. He noted they seemed 'nervous' and 'scared', having been 'chased the entire day'. His drive lasted only about ten minutes. After circling a block, he found his taxi blocked by a garbage truck, at which point photographers swarmed the vehicle, taking pictures. Growing increasingly concerned about the couple's exposure and not wanting their location to be widely shared, the security guard promptly asked Singh to return to the police station. Despite the high-stakes situation, Singh maintained he 'never felt in danger' and that it 'wasn’t like a car chase in a movie'. His account offers a crucial counterpoint to the more dramatic claims, highlighting the differing perspectives on the intensity of the incident.
Differing Accounts: Was it Truly 'Near Catastrophic'?
The events of that night have been subject to various interpretations, leading to a significant divergence in how the severity of the incident is perceived. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's team painted a picture of extreme peril, other key players offered more measured assessments. Understanding these perspectives is crucial to grasping the full complexity of what transpired.
The Sussexes' Perspective
According to the couple's spokesperson, the pursuit was 'near catastrophic', a 'relentless pursuit' lasting 'over two hours'. They stated it resulted in 'multiple near collisions' involving other road users, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers. The couple were said to be 'extremely upset and shaken', with Doria Ragland particularly 'terrified'. Harry reportedly used his iPhone to capture footage of the pursuing photographers, underscoring their belief in the dangerous nature of the chase. They maintained that the incident 'could have been fatal', citing six 'blacked-out vehicles' driving 'recklessly'.
The NYPD's Official Stance
The New York Police Department, while acknowledging that 'numerous photographers made their transport challenging', presented a less dramatic account. Their statement confirmed no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests. Mayor Eric Adams later played down the 'near catastrophic' aspect, describing it instead as a 'bit of a chaotic scene'. He also questioned the 'two-hour high-speed chase' claim, suggesting the active pursuit lasted closer to 75 minutes, or 'about an hour and fifteen minutes'. While concerned about public safety, the official police line did not align with the Sussexes' most severe claims.
The Taxi Driver's Experience
Sukhcharn Singh, the cabbie, provided a grounded, street-level view. He firmly stated, 'I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie.' While he noted the royals 'seemed scared' and 'nervous', he emphasised that 'it’s New York — it’s safe'. Singh's calm assessment contrasts sharply with the 'near catastrophic' description, suggesting that from his vantage point, the situation, though intense, did not feel life-threatening.
The Paparazzi Agency's Response
Backgrid USA, a celebrity picture agency that received images from the event, issued a statement refuting the claims of a dangerous chase. They asserted there were 'no near-collisions or near-crashes' and that any 'reckless' behaviour originated from the Sussexes' own security team, claiming one of their SUVs was seen 'blocking off streets' and even 'being pulled over by the police'. They also highlighted that some photos showed Meghan 'smiling inside a cab', implying a less distressed atmosphere than described. They defended their photographers' actions as a 'professional responsibility to cover newsworthy events'.
Comparative Overview of Accounts
| Aspect | Sussexes' Account | NYPD Account | Taxi Driver (Sukhcharn Singh) | Backgrid Agency Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severity | "Near catastrophic," "could have been fatal," "multiple near collisions" | "Challenging," "chaotic scene," "not near catastrophic," no collisions/injuries | "Never felt in danger," "not like a car chase in a movie" | No "near-collisions or near-crashes," reckless behaviour from Sussexes' security |
| Duration | "Over two hours" | "About an hour and fifteen minutes" (75 mins) | Approx. 10 minutes in his cab | Unspecified, but implies continuous pursuit |
| Paparazzi Behaviour | "Highly aggressive," "recklessly endangering," jumping curbs, red lights, pavement | Made transport "challenging" | Followed closely, took pictures/videos | Professional responsibility; claimed Sussexes' security drove recklessly (blocking streets, getting pulled over) |
| Emotional State | "Extremely upset and shaken," "terrified" (Doria), "scared," "exhausted" | N/A | Sussexes "seemed scared," "nervous" | Meghan seen "smiling inside a cab" |
The Paparazzi's Role and Allegations of Reckless Conduct
Regardless of the varying assessments of the chase's severity, there were consistent reports of dangerous driving by some of the paparazzi. Allegations surfaced that photographers jumped curbs, ran red lights, reversed down one-way streets, and even mounted pavements. One cameraman allegedly hit a car, while another was said to have almost run over a police officer. Despite warnings from uniformed officers to desist, several photographers reportedly ignored these instructions and continued their pursuit. The Sussexes' spokesperson specifically highlighted 'driving on the pavement and through red lights, reversing down a one-way street, illegally blocking a moving vehicle and driving while photographing and while on the phone' as traffic violations.
However, the paparazzi agency Backgrid countered these claims, suggesting that the truly 'reckless' behaviour came from the Sussexes' own security detail. One photographer involved in the incident alleged that the Sussexes' driver was going at 80mph while he was travelling at 20mph, making it 'very tense trying to keep up'. He also claimed the convoy's driver was cutting through lanes and using 'different types of manoeuvres' to evade them. This back-and-forth illustrates the high-stakes and often acrimonious relationship between public figures and the press, where the line between legitimate newsgathering and dangerous intrusion becomes blurred.
A Mother's Legacy: Echoes of Diana
For Prince Harry, the incident undoubtedly evoked painful memories of his mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi. This personal history adds a profound layer of emotional resonance to his and Meghan's claims of a 'near catastrophic' event. Harry has often spoken about the lasting impact of his mother's death on his life, stating in an ITV documentary that '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'. In his memoir 'Spare', he recounted driving through the tunnel where his mother died, seeking a form of closure, only to be overwhelmed by 'unrelenting pain'.
Meghan too has been vocal about the intrusive nature of the press, hinting it was a significant factor in their decision to step back from royal duties and move to the US. She once told The Cut magazine that if her son Archie attended school in London, she would 'never be able' to drop him off or pick him up without 'a Press pen of 40 people snapping pictures'.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams echoed Harry's concerns, expressing alarm that the public may have been put in harm's way and that two of his officers 'could have been injured'. He remarked, 'All of us, I don't think there is many of us who don't recall how his mum died. It would be horrific to lose an innocent bystander in something like this and for something to happen to [Harry and Meghan] as well.' While questioning the specifics of the two-hour high-speed chase, Mayor Adams condemned the paparazzi's actions as 'reckless and irresponsible', emphasising that 'public safety must always be at the forefront'. This public statement from a high-ranking official underscored the seriousness with which the incident was viewed beyond the immediate parties involved.
Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
Following the harrowing experience, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were said to be 'scared' and 'exhausted' but 'relieved' to have returned to their friend's private residence, where they had been staying. The initial decision not to return directly to this address during the pursuit was made to avoid compromising the security of their friends' home. Their security detail has since launched an internal probe to 'evaluate the events' that led to the pursuit.
The incident also comes at a time when Prince Harry is engaged in a second legal challenge against the Home Office in the UK regarding his security arrangements. He is seeking the right to pay privately for his protective security when visiting his home country, a matter that has been a long-standing point of contention since his departure from official royal duties. The New York events, with their stark reminders of the dangers of paparazzi pursuit, will undoubtedly add weight to his arguments regarding the necessity of robust security. While the full picture of the night remains subject to various interpretations and ongoing scrutiny, it serves as a potent reminder of the complex and often dangerous world that high-profile individuals, particularly those with a history like Harry's, navigate daily.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happened to Harry & Meghan's cab?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with Doria Ragland, entered a yellow taxi cab as part of a security strategy to evade paparazzi who had been pursuing their initial SUV after a gala event in New York. Their security team hoped the switch at a police precinct would 'fool' the photographers. However, the plan backfired due to Meghan's identifiable gold dress, and the cab was still followed. The journey in the taxi lasted only about 10 minutes before their security decided to return to the precinct, from where they later left in a different vehicle to their final destination.
Who was driving the taxi?
The yellow taxi cab was driven by Sukhcharn Singh, a 37-year-old New York cabbie who is also known by his nickname 'Sonny'. He has been driving a yellow cab since 2019 and has previously transported other celebrities, including Keith Richards.
How long did the pursuit last?
The total pursuit duration is disputed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's spokesperson claimed the 'relentless pursuit' lasted 'over two hours'. However, the New York Police Department (NYPD) stated that the active pursuit lasted approximately 75 minutes, or 'about an hour and fifteen minutes'. The specific time the couple spent in Sukhcharn Singh's taxi was only around 10 minutes.
Was anyone injured?
According to the New York Police Department's official statement, there were 'no reported collisions, summonses, injuries or arrests' in regard to the incident. While the Sussexes' spokesperson claimed 'multiple near collisions', the police and the taxi driver did not report any actual physical harm or accidents.
Why did they get into a taxi?
Harry and Meghan's security team decided to switch them into a yellow taxi cab from their SUV at the NYPD's 19th Precinct. This was an attempt to lose the paparazzi who had been relentlessly following them since they left the gala event. The idea was that a standard taxi would be less conspicuous and allow them to escape the photographers.
How did the police react?
The NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They acknowledged that 'numerous photographers made their transport challenging'. New York City Mayor Eric Adams later expressed concern over public safety and called the paparazzi's actions 'reckless and irresponsible', drawing parallels to Princess Diana's death. However, the NYPD's official statement played down the 'near catastrophic' claim, characterising the scene as 'chaotic' rather than dangerous in terms of collisions or injuries.
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