Prince Harry, Meghan Markle paparazzi chase: NYPD sources claim no arrests to be made

The controversial claim that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were dangerously chased by paparazzi has resurfaced in a surprise move.

The controversial claim that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were dangerously chased by paparazzi in New York after a glitzy awards night has taken another twist.

A letter from the New York Police Department, entered in Prince Harry’s failed High Court bid for UK security, alleged that arrests could soon be made over the incident.

However, according to The New York Post, police sources have said the case has been thoroughly probed and no charges are likely to be filed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the night of the alleged chase. Picture: Getty Images

The sources told the Post that the while the probe found “reckless” and “unacceptable” behaviour by paparazzi — Prince Harry and Megan’s security contributed to the conditions by not adhering to an NYPD proposed stop.

The alleged incident occurred after the pair left the Women of Vision Awards gala last May.

Prince Harry and Meghan claimed they were subjected to an hour-long “near-catastrophic,” “relentless pursuit” by “a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi”.

The official letter was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police last September, by the NYPD as part of the London High Court’s consideration of a lawsuit Prince Harry filed against the British government, demanding that he receive taxpayer-funded police protection while in the UK.

Prince Harry lost his UK police protection and has been fighting to get it back. Picture: AFP

In a dramatic court hearing attended by the royal's’s lawyers, Prince Harry lost his long-running High Court battle.

During the hearing, a letter was read out in which Harry warned officials who removed his family’s UK security that he believed his family was “at a greater risk” than Princess Diana in an emotional letter.

In a stark admission, the Duke of Sussex wrote that “racism and extremism”, compared to when his mother was killed in a tragic car crash in 1997, made him more concerned for the safety of his loved ones than ever before.

His lawyers claimed at a hearing in London that he had been “singled out” and treated “less favourably” than other royals.

Princess Diana with Prince Harry, Prince William and the then Prince Charles in 1995, did not have UK security at the time of her tragic death. Picture: WireImage

The 39-year-old Prince had sued Britain’s Home Office after it refused to spend taxpayers’ money on bodyguards when he stepped down as a working member of the royal family.

London’s High Court found there had not been any “unlawfulness” in the call to pull the Duke of Sussex’s security, after he and wife Meghan Markle left the UK for North America in 2020, adding the decision had been “justified”, and was not “irrational” – as it had been claimed.

Prince Harry has been dealt another blow in court. Picture: Getty Images

In a 52-page court document, Prince Harry outlined what he believed his “biggest threat” was — but it was redacted from the findings.

The Duke said he was “born” into a high-profile family and his security threat will “never decrease”.

The Prince said: “(It was) a position that no one was willing to put my mother in 23 years ago – and yet today, with greater risk, as mentioned above, with the additional layers of racism and extremism, someone is comfortable taking accountability for what could happen.

“I would like that person’s name who is willing to take accountability for this choice please.”

This now means that Prince Harry and Meghan will have to pay out of pocket for their family’s security when visiting the UK.

Prince Harry was not in court but has vowed to appeal the judgment, claiming he is “not asking for preferential treatment”.

“We are pleased that the court has found in favour of the Government’s position in this case, and we are carefully considering our next steps. It would be inappropriate to comment further,” a Home Office spokesman said after the ruling.

Prince Harry said he can’t keep his family “safe” in the UK. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski

“The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our longstanding policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”

Prince Harry was allowed security when he stayed at royal residences or attended royal events but had to organise his own security in other situations.

It was ruled those conditions were fair, and would continue.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain estranged from Prince William and Princess Catherine. Picture: AFP

Prince Harry’s lawyers had sought a judicial review of the government’s refusal of his offer to hire police officers as his private security detail, which was initially denied by London’s High Court in May 2023.

After the Duke’s lawyers appealed the ruling, a judge granted permission for a full hearing to take place that would review the Home Office’s decision to strip the Sussexes of security.

The father of two appeared in court on home soil back in December where his challenge of the initial ruling was heard over a two-and-a-half day period.

The case was held in private over privacy concerns.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with baby Archie at Windsor in 2019. They left Britain the following year. Picture: AFP

At a previous hearing, Prince Harry claimed he was unable to return to the UK with his family “because it is too dangerous”.

“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children,” he told court in the written statement read out by his lawyers.

“That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”

Prince Harry initially lost a legal bid in May to challenge the British government’s decision barring him from paying for police protection during his visits to the UK.

Prince Harry did not see Prince William when he flew to the UK to see King Charles after his cancer diagnosis. Picture: Getty Images

In the first stage of the case, the Duke’s lawyers asked Justice Swift to grant permission for a full hearing, which was ultimately granted.

Justice Swift said it was “arguable” whether the Duke “should have had the opportunity to make representations direct to Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC).”

However, Home Office lawyers argued he was no longer part of a group of people whose “security position” was under regular review by Ravec.

They said rather he was “brought back within the cohort in the appropriate circumstances”.

While the cost of the royal family’s security is a secret due to national security, the Institute for Government think tank reported it could cost the taxpayer as much as $A200 million, the Sun reported.

It’s not known how much Prince Harry’s full security would have cost, but The Mirror reported he and Meghan spend $A3 million a year for protection in the US.

Originally published as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle paparazzi chase: NYPD sources claim no arrests to be made