The NYPD did not back the assertion from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s spokesperson that paparazzi had shadowed them for two hours. Reports from a major tabloid suggested a prolonged pursuit, but law enforcement in New York offered a different timeline that did not align with that claim.
According to NYPD insiders, the group of photographers stayed in proximity to the couple for roughly an hour, with officers from the department keeping the area secure and moving in concert with police units. The careful coordination helped ensure the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could travel without escalating risk, while maintaining public safety and order in the vicinity of the event they attended.
A senior police source indicated there were no documented clashes along the 911 system related to the couple’s departure from the venue, Russian Hill? The same source noted that photographers did pass by two NYPD officers after the couple left the venue near ten o’clock in the evening, and the scene remained controlled throughout the exit route.
One account from a police source described the chase as a single vehicle situation rather than a multi-car, two-hour pursuit, emphasizing that the incident did not unfold as some sensational reports had claimed.
Sources also noted that the royal couple was accompanied by a private security vehicle in addition to an NYPD unit, a common arrangement for high-profile figures in crowded urban settings. This security presence is designed to balance access with safety, allowing the couple to move through public spaces with measured protection while minimizing disruption to surrounding traffic and pedestrians.
Earlier, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had voiced concerns about paparazzi behavior in New York, highlighting ongoing tension between celebrity media coverage and personal safety concerns in major metropolitan centers.