Prince Harry and Meghan Markle demanded {that a} picture company hand over the footage snapped by paparazzi after their “near-catastrophic car chase”.
Per TMZ, the embattled royals — who had been in New York City the evening of the alleged chase — stated they want the footage to enhance their safety, reviews Page Six.
“We hereby demand that Backgrid immediately provide us with copies of all photos, videos, and/or films taken last night by the freelance photographers after the couple left their event and over the next several hours,” their attorneys stated in a letter to the company.
However, Backgrid’s attorneys shot again with a snarky letter of their very own, “In America, as I’m sure you know, property belongs to the owner of it: Third parties cannot just demand it be given to them, as perhaps Kings can do.
“Perhaps you should sit down with your client and advise them that his English rules of royal prerogative to demand that the citizenry hand over their property to the Crown were rejected by this country long ago. We stand by our founding fathers.”
Not solely did Backgrind refuse at hand over the footage, however that they had additionally beforehand denied the royals’ claims.
“According to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes during this incident,” Backgrid USA informed Page Six in a press release on Wednesday.
“The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”
The company denied the claims that the couple was chased by “highly aggressive paparazzi,” saying its employed photographers had no intention of “causing any distress or harm, as their only tool was their cameras.”
“It is important to note that these photographers have a professional responsibility to cover newsworthy events and personalities, including public figures such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,” the company added, earlier than noting that it values “transparency and ethics” in journalism, together with “providing fair and factual responses to claims.”
Nevertheless, the corporate stated they may proceed to look into the incident.
Page Six reported on Wednesday that Harry, Meghan, and Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, had been “extremely upset and shaken” after being chased for 2 hours in what may have been a “near-catastrophic” incident.
After the previous Suits star, 41, acquired an award on the 2023 Women of Vision ceremony, the trio obtained in an SUV at round 10pm. They claimed they had been instantly adopted by greater than 10 photographers.
After not having the ability to shake off the paps, the couple, in addition to Ragland and their safety guards, jumped right into a yellow cab in an effort to flee.
A supply claimed to us that one photographer hit a automobile and one other virtually ran over an NYPD officer through the “near-fatal” chase.
“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,” a rep for the Sussexes added in a press release to Page Six.
“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.”
However, following their allegations, eyewitnesses claimed the couple exaggerated the incident.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination, and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries or arrests in regard,” the New York City Police Department stated in a press release on Wednesday, addressing their allegations.
The NYPD added that it “assisted” the royals’ personal safety group in holding them secure.
A high-ranking police supply informed The Post that no emergency calls had been made to report the chase and that the NYPD solely had one automobile surveying the state of affairs.
“[The chase] definitely wasn’t two hours,” the police insider added.
Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed that, in response to a briefing he acquired, two NYPD officers “could have been injured.”
“I don’t think there are many of us who don’t recall how [Harry’s mum, Princess Diana] died. It would be horrific to lose innocent bystanders during a chase like this and [for] something to have happened to them as well,” Adams stated, referring to the late Princess of Wales dying in a 1997 automobile crash in Paris involving paparazzi.
Despite the eerie similarities to Diana’s reason for demise, members of the royal household haven’t checked in on Harry and Meghan for the reason that incident.
A supply informed Page Six that neither King Charles III and Queen Camilla, nor Prince William and Kate Middleton, have contacted the Sussexes.
Reps for Harry and Markle didn’t instantly reply to Page Six’s requests for remark.
This article initially appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission
Source: www.news.com.au
