The Daily Beast has exclusively obtained a letter sent by the New York Police Department to London’s Metropolitan Police force, in which it confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan were the subject of a “dangerous” car chase in Manhattan, claims which were roundly mocked at the time in many quarters.
The contents of the letter were referred to directly and indirectly in a judgement which went against Harry Wednesday, but the full contents of the letter, minus some redactions made by the British court hearing the case, are being revealed by The Daily Beast for the first time.
The letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police in London on Dec. 6 last year by NYPD Chief of Intelligence John B. Hart. Hart discussed “certain changes to the security posture that will be afforded to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex” following a “thorough review” of the incident on May 16 in which Harry, Meghan and Meghan’s mom Doria Ragland were pursued by paparazzi after they left an awards ceremony at the Ziegfeld Theater in midtown New York.
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Mr Hart wrote: “We found the following: reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws and persistently dangerous and unacceptable behavior on the part of the paparazzi during the night in question.
“The individuals operated vehicles, scooters, and bicycles in a manner that forced the security team, which included an NYPD Lead Car, to take evasive actions on several occasions and a circuitous route to avoid being struck by pursuing vehicles or trapped on side blocks.
“Our conclusion, upon review with the Manhattan District Attorney's office, is that we have sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment.”
The findings have yet to result in any arrests, however they have prompted an immediate upgrade in the security extended to Prince Harry and Meghan when they visit New York in the future, according to Mr Hart.
At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s spokesperson described the pursuit of the couple and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland by a “ring of highly aggressive” paparazzi in cars as “near-catastrophic.”
The spokesperson added: “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”
Prince Harry on Wednesday lost the latest battle in his war on the British government over his security arrangements, with a judge rejecting his demand for automatic police protection while in the U.K.
He immediately said he would appeal the ruling.
Whether Harry will find any consolation in being vindicated over the car chase remains to be seen. The couple were widely mocked for the claim, including by pretty much anyone who has ever sat in a Manhattan traffic jam—plus the cab driver who transported the couple for a few minutes, who said following the incident: “I never felt like I was in danger. ...It’s New York—it’s safe.”
Even a spokesman for the New York City Police Department played down the severity of the incident at the time, saying, “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.”
A summary of the intelligence briefing was published Wednesday in the judgment in the lawsuit Prince Harry was bringing against the British Government over his security provisions in the U.K.
While the NYPD has yet to actually arrest anyone in connection with the incident, there has been an immediate upgrade in the security extended to Prince Harry and Meghan when they visit New York in the future, according to the officer.
Following the incident, NYC Mayor Adams, despite questioning whether there could really have been a “high speed” chase in NYC, did confirm that two officers “could have been injured” and evoked the fate of Harry’s mother, Diana.
The Princess of Wales died in 1997 after suffering internal injuries resulting from a high-speed car crash fleeing paparazzi in Paris, saying: “I think there are not many of us who do not recall how his mom died and it would be horrific to lose an innocent bystander during a chase like this.”
The Daily Beast has contacted Meghan and Harry’s office for comment.
