Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused quite a stir on Tuesday night when they unexpectedly emerged in front of a group of photographers outside the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
The couple later pointed fingers at the photographers for allegedly engaging in a dangerous car chase.
Despite having top-notch security led by a former member of Barack Obama’s secret service detail, renowned for his skill in discreetly extracting celebrities from sticky situations, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally opted to exit through the back of the ballroom around 10 pm.
A close source to the royal couple revealed that Harry and Meghan chose to make this public appearance to offer the waiting paparazzi a chance to capture their images.
While the couple willingly provided the photographers with the shots they desired upon leaving the event, trouble ensued as they found themselves being trailed thereafter.
Their representative, Ashley Hansen, commended the resulting photographs as some of the most stunning from the evening, although Harry and Meghan refrained from pausing for posed shots.
Photographs from the incident depict an initially cheerful Prince Harry leading his wife with a smile, which quickly morphed into a grim expression.
As they attempted to enter their waiting SUV, a substantial security team blocked the photographers’ view.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, 38-year-old Harry, visibly distressed, filmed the car ride, expressing his frustration with expletives and drawing parallels to the tragic circumstances surrounding Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in 1997.
Interestingly, it was Meghan who had arranged for some paparazzi to be stationed at the exit in advance, with the intention of securing favorable images.
However, the situation spiraled out of control, leaving Prince Harry deeply perturbed and incensed.
Contrary to claims by photographers that no shots were obtained of the couple’s departure, Hansen swiftly debunked these assertions by producing several captivating images via text, proving otherwise.
At the gala earlier that evening, photographer Mr. Wong, among others, had been positioned at the front, anticipating Meghan’s solo appearance without her husband.
While numerous notable figures graced the event, Mr. Wong believed that only capturing Meghan’s photo would fetch him a substantial sum.
Freelance photographer Michael Stewart recounted how he trailed the couple on his electric bike for thirty minutes, revealing the involvement of multiple cars and bikes in the pursuit, including those of the Sussexes and the pursuing photographers.
Martin Patterson, also known as Blaise, another photographer present during the commotion, affirmed the authenticity of the captured moments, emphasizing the rawness and truthfulness of the events that transpired.
The unexpected encounter between the royal couple and the paparazzi left a lasting impression, shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by individuals constantly under media scrutiny.