Royal fans have expressed concerns that paparazzi have 'learned nothing from Diana' after Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland were reportedly involved in a 'near catastrophic car chase' with photographers in New York City. The incident occurred on Tuesday after the couple attended an awards ceremony, with the pursuit allegedly lasting over two hours and involving six blacked-out vehicles.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes described the chase as 'relentless' and 'highly aggressive,' resulting in multiple near collisions with other drivers, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers. The duke and duchess believe the pursuit could have been fatal, drawing immediate comparisons to the 1997 death of Princess Diana, who died after her car was chased by paparazzi in Paris.
On social media, users voiced horror at the parallels. 'The paparazzi have learned NOTHING from Diana. This is disgusting,' one wrote. Another added: 'Terrifying on its own but even more chilling given what happened to Harry's mom Diana.' Calls for stricter regulations followed, with actress Mia Farrow suggesting 'laws, rules to govern these predatory paparazzi.'
Prince Harry has previously spoken about his fear of 'history repeating itself,' particularly in his AppleTV+ docuseries The Me You Can't See. Reflecting on his mother's death, he said: 'It's incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life... it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry.' He also recalled anger over the inquest's conclusion of 'gross negligence' by the driver and paparazzi, noting that 'nothing came from that.'
The pursuit allegedly involved numerous traffic violations including driving on pavements, through red lights, and reversing down a one-way street. The Sussexes' spokesperson condemned the 'dangerous' methods used to obtain photos, stating: '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.'
