The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s time in New York on Tuesday has come under intense scrutiny after their spokesperson claimed they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase”.
Harry and Meghan attended an awards ceremony with her mother Doria Ragland and were staying at an unknown location on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The events unfolded as they left the venue and tried to go home.
Claims the “relentless pursuit” lasted “more than two hours” have since been countered by police and a taxi driver who helped divert photographers in his yellow cab.
Here is a timeline of events from what we know so far.
Earlier on Tuesday evening
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland arrive at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, which is on 54th Street in Midtown Manhattan – less than half a mile south of Central Park.
They arrive through a back entrance on 55th street via a Hertz car rental to avoid attention – but are pictured going in.
Meghan accepts an award at the ceremony, which is the couple’s first official public appearance in five months – and the first since the King’s coronation.
10pm
The trio leaves the venue through the same exit on 55th street in a black SUV.
Again, they’re pictured leaving.
10 – 10.45pm
Their SUV is escorted by police, with NYPD deputy commissioner Julian Phillips revealing his officers “assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex”.
They are followed by several photographers in cars, on mopeds and electric bikes.
The police convoy drives 2.5 miles towards the East River and then up and down the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive, which runs alongside it, trying to lose sight of the photographers.
Chris Sanchez, from the couple’s security team, describes it as a “chase”, with around a dozen vehicles “jumping curbs and red lights”, reversing down a one-way street and blocking the SUV to take pictures during this time.
10.45 – 11pm
The police then help them drive north to the NYPD 19th precinct on 67th street, which is on the Upper East Side – north east of the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
They take cover in a garage there for 15 minutes, according to The New York Post.
11 – 11.10pm
At the precinct, the couple’s security team flag down a yellow taxi driven by Sukhcharn ‘Sunny’ Singh, 37, from Queens, who has since been interviewed by multiple media outlets.
Before they can leave, a rubbish truck blocks them in, giving the paparazzi time to surround them.
Instead of returning to where they’re staying and revealing the location, Mr Singh drives them around in a circle for 10 minutes.
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He tells the press they are followed by two vehicles – a black Honda Accord and a grey Honda CR-V – and have a police escort.
Mr Singh drives them a block and a half west to Park Avenue, reaching there around 11.05pm, before heading south.
The security team is concerned more people will see them, so tells Mr Singh to go back to the precinct, he says.
He uses the street parallel, Madison Avenue, to drive north again and back to the precinct. The fare is $17.80 (£14.30), but the couple tip him $50.
11.10pm
The Sussexes and Ms Ragland leave the precinct in a black SUV and are not followed.
