Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issue new ‘demand’ after alleged paparazzi car chase

Lawyers for the Sussexes have issued a new “demand” to the photo agency following their claims of an “aggressive” paparazzi car chase.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have issued a new “demand” following their “car chase” incident. Picture: Taylor Hill/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle demanded that a photo agency hand over the footage snapped by paparazzi after their “near-catastrophic car chase”.

Per TMZ, the embattled royals — who were in New York City the night of the alleged chase — said they need the footage to improve their security, reports 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 lawyers said in a letter to the agency.

However, Backgrid’s lawyers shot back with a snarky letter of their 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 only did Backgrind refuse to hand over the footage, but they had also previously denied the royals’ claims.

“According to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes during this incident,” Backgrid USA told Page Six in a statement on Wednesday.

“The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”

The couple was photographed before the alleged incident occurred. Picture: Mega/GC Images

The agency denied the claims that the couple was chased by “highly aggressive paparazzi,” saying its hired 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 agency added, before noting that it values “transparency and ethics” in journalism, including “providing fair and factual responses to claims.”

Nevertheless, the company said they will continue to look into the incident.

Page Six reported on Wednesday that Harry, Meghan, and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, were “extremely upset and shaken” after being chased for two hours in what could have been a “near-catastrophic” incident.

After the former Suits star, 41, received an award at the 2023 Women of Vision ceremony, the trio got in an SUV at around 10pm. They claimed they were immediately followed by more than 10 photographers.

Their lawyers have demanded the photo agency hand over their images. Picture: Taylor Hill/WireImage

After not being able to shake off the paps, the couple, as well as Ragland and their security guards, jumped into a yellow cab in an effort to escape.

A source claimed to us that one photographer hit a car and another almost ran over an NYPD officer during 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 statement 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 said in a statement on Wednesday, addressing their allegations.

The NYPD added that it “assisted” the royals’ private security team in keeping them safe.

A high-ranking police source told The Post that no emergency calls were made to report the chase and that the NYPD only had one car surveying the situation.

“[The chase] definitely wasn’t two hours,” the police insider added.

Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed that, according to a briefing he received, 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 said, referring to the late Princess of Wales dying in a 1997 car crash in Paris involving paparazzi.

Despite the eerie similarities to Diana’s cause of death, members of the royal family have not checked in on Harry and Meghan since the incident.

A source told 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 did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issue new ‘demand’ after alleged paparazzi car chase