Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of SussexA spokesman for the couple said Wednesday that they were involved in a “nearly disastrous car chase” with paparazzi in New York City.

The pair and Meghan’s mother were followed by photographers after they left a charity event in New York on Tuesday night.

“This relentless chase, which lasted more than two hours, resulted in multiple near-collisions with other drivers, pedestrians and two NYPD officers on the road,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

They added that the “nearly disastrous car chase” was the work of “an extremely aggressive group of paparazzi”.

The incident happened after the couple attended the Women’s Vision Awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York. Megan’s mother, Doria Raglandalso attended the event.

It was the first public event the couple attended Coronation of King Charles III, Megan did not participate. Harry’s mother, princess dianaDied in a car accident while being chased by paparazzi in Paris in 1997.

“While there is a degree of public interest in being a public figure, it should never be at the expense of anyone’s safety,” the couple said in a statement Wednesday.

after leaving office The senior royals for January 2020 After moving to California, the couple repeatedly complained that the media followed them too long.

“We all know what the British media can be like, and it’s destroying my mental health,” Harry said in a February 2021 interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

“It’s toxic,” he said, adding that the media created a “very difficult” environment for the couple. “So I did what any husband and father would do – I needed to get my family out of here.”

Harry also said his biggest fear before leaving the royal family was “history repeating itself” as his wife faced the same level of scrutiny as Diana.

This is a developing news story. Please check for updates.