The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, found themselves at the center of a dangerous car chase involving paparazzi in New York City on Tuesday night. The ordeal is reported to have triggered memories of the fatal accident involving Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

The royal couple and Ragland were in New York to attend the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards, where Meghan received honors from Gloria Steinem. The event concluded late in the evening, around 10 PM, at the Ziegfeld Theatre. As the trio left the venue in an SUV, they were pursued by a group of roughly 12 photographers, according to PageSix.

The car chase, described by a representative of the couple as "near catastrophic," involved "highly aggressive paparazzi" and lasted for over two hours. The relentless pursuit resulted in numerous near-miss incidents with other drivers, pedestrians, and two officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD).

"Their security tried their best to lose [the photographers]," an insider relayed to PageSix. It was reported that the chase began with 12 photographers, reducing to four as the chase continued. In the midst of the pursuit, one photographer reportedly collided with another vehicle, while another almost hit an NYPD officer.

Given the severity of the situation, Prince Harry and the couple's security detail recorded the chase as potential evidence. Despite being confronted by NYPD officers, the paparazzi continued their relentless pursuit, disregarding warnings.

The spokesperson for the Sussexes emphasized that while public figures can expect interest from the public, it should never compromise anyone's safety. This echoed the sentiments of Prince Harry and Meghan, who were reportedly "extremely upset and shaken" by the incident. Ragland, too, was said to have been "terrified."

The harrowing encounter is reminiscent of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Princess Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, in Paris, due to aggressive paparazzi pursuit. This incident in New York serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers associated with the relentless pursuit of public figures.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, Prince Harry, Meghan, and Ragland have opted to remain in New York City in the aftermath of the incident.