Last Wednesday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle starred in a tense moment with the press after leaving the Ms. Foundation for Women gala. According to their spokesperson, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, were about to be involved in "an almost catastrophic accident" due to the persecution of journalists in Manhattan. Now the couple has requested the Backgrid news agency, specialized in celebrities, the photographs and videos that were taken upon leaving an awards ceremony last Tuesday. However, it has rejected his request.
The incident reminded many, almost inevitably, of the tragic death of Diana of Wales, who lost her life in August 1997 after a fatal traffic accident aided by a paparazzi chase. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in New York on the occasion of the award that Markle received for 'the Woman of Vision'. This was the first time that the couple reappeared together after the coronation of Carlos III.
The couple ran into the press while leaving the venue. In the pursuit, according to the dukes, a dozen paparazzi participated, all aboard vehicles with tinted windows. Now the couple has asked the agency for images of the moment, as Backgrid explained this Thursday. The company claimed that it had rejected their request, which came to them by letter and was signed by the Sussexes' legal team. In it, they were required to provide them with the images taken on Tuesday in the Big Apple.
It was the agency that reported the content of this letter to the BBC, and who also revealed the response to it. "We hereby demand that Backgrid immediately provide us with copies of all photos, videos and/or film taken last night by independent photographers after the couple left the event and for the next several hours," the letter began.
The agency has also revealed to the BBC what was their response to this demand, where they recall the absence of royal privileges in the country where the couple currently resides. "In the United States, as we are sure you know, the property belongs to its owner: third parties cannot demand that it be given to them, as perhaps kings can do," the agency responded very forcefully.
"Perhaps they should sit down with their clients and explain to them that their English royal prerogative rules to require citizens to hand over their property to the Crown were rejected by this country a long time ago. We support our founding fathers," the agency continued. and as it was revealed to the renowned British chain.
Last Wednesday, the agency announced that it was investigating the conduct of four independent photographers involved in taking pictures of the youngest son of Carlos III and his daughter-in-law, despite the fact that the agency questions the version of the incident provided by the couple. The photographers, as the couple explained then, reported that the Sussexes were "not in danger at any time."
It was last Wednesday when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reported the event through a spokesperson. "Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Mrs. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a group of very aggressive paparazzi," the statement said. "This relentless pursuit, which lasted for more than two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two New York Police Department officers," the couple said through their intermediary.
Later, the police relativized the seriousness of the event through a statement. "The New York Police Department assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. There were numerous photographers making their transfer difficult. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reached their destination without any collisions, damage or arrests as a result of the persecution. Now the dukes seem determined to go to the end of the matter.
