The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 8: April - August 2023

[Mbruno]

The Sussex's attended a very well publized Award Event in NY City. They ABSOLUTELY knew the paparazzi would be there, and instead of dealing with it as seasoned professionals, they escalated the situation by their actions. How much ? No-one knows as there are greatly conflicting "recollections" of what actually happened. "Near catastrophe" Or "challenging". Big difference.

I'm reminded what Samantha Cohen,The Queens one time Asst Private Secretary (VERY highly valued and respected) said about The Sussex's....." that dealing with them was like dealing with teenagers". That I can certainly believe. Petulant, unreasonable and flying off the handle. That poor Chauffeur that night, I can only imagine the stress he was under. Dealing with them AND the situation at hand.

Well, since we have seen clips of Harry in the car filming the paparazzi as this unfolded, I'm sure it will play a central role in their Netflix "The Sequel"
follow up of the victimized Sussex's.

Funny, how giant A-listers like The Clooney's, Oprah and Taylor Swift seem to deal with these public events appearances in a professional manner.

Looking forward as more details come forward about this. Again, The Sussex's did themselves and their "Drama Queens" reputations and antics no favors in this at all.

I agree that the situation was escalated and aggravated by the actions of the Sussexes' security team, including their driver, who nearly ran over some pedestrians on the sidewalk (pavement in UK English).


That is why I said that the Sussexes should reconsider how they handle situations like that and maybe take guidance from other celebrities on this matter. Perhaps talk to some of their Hollywood "friends".

 

[OwlBranch]

MonacoRoyalFan. They were at a Police Station also. "IF" there had been any real danger, The Cops would have taken control of the situation and insisted on taking them to their destination. The Police would never have left high profile individuals, regardless of the Couple wishes, embark in danger. Never.

Its now turning into a joke and farce now. All orchestrated in an attempt by The Sussex's to gin up sympathy and support. As their popularity and respect here in the US continues its nose dive.
The Statement released by their Spokesperson certainly opened "Pandora's Box".

The police did take control of the situation. The Sussex stayed at the police station for a time. The police had to block traffic in the area in order to thwart the paparazzi, so that the family could leave unfollowed.

 

[Erin9]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 8: Apr. 2023 -

To be fair, I don’t believe the Sussexes ever described the chase as ‘high speed.”

That adjective is courtesy of Mayor Adams, and it was used early on, when facts were still unclear.

The word chase implies a certain amount of speed in my mind.

If I say I was chased down the street- I’m pretty sure no one would think I meant I was just walking. It would imply faster movement.

 

[Denville]

It was an attempt to get away from the paps. The SUV drove off in a different direction.

oh come, surely anyone would feel safer in their own car, which had blacked out windows.. than in a random taxi. Why do this leaping around, trying to avoid the paps like something out of a movie?

 

[Granada]

Actually, OwlBranch, the Police DID NOT take control of the situation. Had the situation been deemed "near catastrophic" as the Sussex's press release stated, the Police would have assumed control.

The Police didn't. The Sussex's left on their own. In their own Car. After first, bizarrely hailing a Cab. (?????)
I guess the Police rightly assessed the situation as merely 'challenging'. The Sussex's never even entered the Station. There was no danger.

Wow. They thought they would come out of this debacle on top. Not laughingstocks.....

 

[Erin9]

I agree that the situation was escalated and aggravated by the actions of the Sussexes' security team, including their driver, who nearly ran over some pedestrians on the sidewalk (pavement in UK English).


That is why I said that the Sussexes should reconsider how they handle situations like that and maybe take guidance from other celebrities on this matter. Perhaps talk to some of their Hollywood "friends".

Yikes. I missed that part- THEIR driver nearly ran over people on the sidewalk.

Yes- they absolutely need to rethink how they handle these situations.

This is NY. They have tons of celebrities there all the time. Bigger than the Sussexes. Somehow- these situations seem to not happen to them.

 

[Queen Claude]

I think that this is a case of Aegrescit medendo, aka the cure is worse than the disease. The Sussexes, and I think Harry is really the culprit here, trying to evade the paparazzi, and specifically how they chose to do make that happen, is worse than the paparazzi following them in hopes of getting more pictures.

From what I am understanding, the Sussexes chose to stay at a friend's private home, they were aware that photographers would try and follow them and wanted to protect the privacy of the friend. Nevertheless, they decided to go directly to that friend's home from a high profile event, and if the expected happens, i.e., they are followed by the paps, then they would take measures to evade the paps. The decision to try and evade paps following a high profile event in New York City via use of your private security and/or the NYPD's vehicles is not sound judgement IMO.

IMO someone should have pushed back during the planning stage and stated that the Sussexes should stay in a nearby hotel and not at this friend's home, or if they really wanted to stay with this friend, then still check into a nearby hotel and from there be spirited out of the hotel in a non-descript vehicle to this friend's home.

To me if there is any kind of postmortem of this incident, it may be about protection people having the final say. Of course the client should be accommodated where feasible, which should be most of the time, but the security team cannot bend to certain whims and dictates. Ironically I thought this was a lesson learned from the chain of events in Paris that resulted in the death of Harry's mother.

 

[Denville]

The police did take control of the situation. The Sussex stayed at the police station for a time. The police had to block traffic in the area in order to thwart the paparazzi, so that the family could leave unfollowed.

How did other celebrities manage? Im sure that there were many famous people at this event, and they did not all end up rushing to a police station or hiding out in a taxi. why not simply agree that the paps coud take a few pictures, and then go home?

 

[Erin9]

I think that this is a case of Aegrescit medendo, aka the cure is worse than the disease. The Sussexes, and I think Harry is really the culprit here, trying to evade the paparazzi, and specifically how they chose to do make that happen, is worse than the paparazzi following them in hopes of getting more pictures.

From what I am understanding, the Sussexes chose to stay at a friend's private home, they were aware that photographers would try and follow them and wanted to protect the privacy of the friend. Nevertheless, they decided to go directly to that friend's home from a high profile event, and if the expected happens, i.e., they are followed by the paps, then they would take measures to evade the paps. The decision to try and evade paps following a high profile event in New York City via use of your private security and/or the NYPD's vehicles is not sound judgement IMO.

IMO someone should have pushed back during the planning stage and stated that the Sussexes should stay in a nearby hotel and not at this friend's home, or if they really wanted to stay with this friend, then still check into a nearby hotel and from there be spirited out of the hotel in a non-descript vehicle to this friend's home.

To me if there is any kind of postmortem of this incident, it may be about protection people having the final say. Of course the client should be accommodated where feasible, which should be most of the time, but the security team cannot bend to certain whims and dictates. Ironically I thought this was a lesson learned from the chain of events in Paris that resulted in the death of Harry's mother.

I think this is a good sum up.

Put another way- the Sussexes wanted to do exactly what they wanted to do how they wanted to do it. And that wasn’t the best way under the circumstances. But- fairly typical of them in general imo.

 

[Denville]

well it seems to me that the messy dodging about is very close to the stuff that Dodi did when taking Diana home from the Hotel.. changing cars, using different drivers, trying to evade the paps... Its clear that Harry hasn't learned anything..

 

[Lee-Z]

From Harry's pov this probably is that the paparazzi haven't learned anything...

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

On some subconscious level, I believe Harry sees everything related to the press now in the present as recreating his primary trauma: his mother’s death - blaming the paps back then, but not also blaming a drunk speeding driver nor riders in the car who weren’t wearing seatbelts. In seeing this everywhere he goes, it is exaggerated in his mind. He was not able to save his mother all those years ago, but THIS TIME he will save the other woman he loves. Sadly, all the drama surrounding him each time he sues yet another media organization just ensures that he will continue to be surrounded by paps - which he needs in order to continually ruminate about his trauma.
I think of Princess Anne’s response at 23 when her would be kidnapper tried to get her out of the car, wrestled her to the floorboard of her car and split her dress: “Not bloody likely.” This was a real, credible threat where at least two people - her chauffeur and bodyguard- were shot. A DM journalist was shot as well. Seven men tried to stop him from kidnapping her. Miles apart from this recent incident with Harry in NYC.

If you’re interested in reading about the kidnap attempt: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/bloody-attempt-kidnap-british-princess-180950202/

 

[MonacoRoyalFan]

From Harry's pov this probably is that the paparazzi haven't learned anything...

Due to the disgraceful tone of the coverage from some news outlets and royal watchers, I feel the need to say this.

The car chase with paparazzi would've been very triggering for Prince Harry.

If their driver had lost control of the car, it would indeed be "near-catastrophic". That's the point.

[…]

 

[shady lady]

well it seems to me that the messy dodging about is very close to the stuff that Dodi did when taking Diana home from the Hotel.. changing cars, using different drivers, trying to evade the paps... Its clear that Harry hasn't learned anything..

And not wearing seatbelts?

I've now found the picture I was talking about in my last post earlier if anyone's interested (it's in Caitlyn Jenner's tweet):

https://nypost.com/2023/05/17/piers...r-catastrophic-car-chase-story-is-unraveling/

Assuming they haven't just removed them, if they weren't wearing seatbelts throughout "the near-catastrophic chase"...and even it wasn't as bad as they made out...that would be just insane...

 

[Denville]

From Harry's pov this probably is that the paparazzi haven't learned anything...

that would be foolish. THe paparrazzie are not going to change much, he should use his wits and live with them

 

[Denville]

Due to the disgraceful tone of the coverage from some news outlets and royal watchers, I feel the need to say this.

The car chase with paparazzi would've been very triggering for Prince Harry.

If their driver had lost control of the car, it would indeed be "near-catastrophic". That's the point.

[…]

so why not take precautions to make sure that nothing like that happened again?

 

[MonacoRoyalFan]

so why not take precautions to make sure that nothing like that happened again?

You do not know what precautions they did or did not take. [.....] They had a security professional with them and seemingly took their advice. We can argue whether the advice is good or not, but we should not equate our opinion (as non-security professionals) as the same as that of a security professional.

[.....]

 

[Ista]

Let's move on from who is and is not qualified to comment. None of us have any information other than what is being currently reported.

Further comments along those lines will be deleted.

 

[RandyDrx]

Due to the disgraceful tone of the coverage from some news outlets and royal watchers, I feel the need to say this.

The car chase with paparazzi would've been very triggering for Prince Harry.

If their driver had lost control of the car, it would indeed be "near-catastrophic". That's the point.

I do wonder what the tone of this conversation would be had something catastrophic happened. Seems to me it would be a lot of inappropriate victim-blaming.

Which could be avoided had they simply smiled and waved like other celebrities instead of playing cat and mouse with the paparazzi like his mother had done.

Not to mention that he, Meghan and Doria didn't wore seat belts, which is stupid considering some people believe had she worn them, Diana would survive the car crash.

Harry truly hasn't learnt ANYTHING from his mother's accident.

 

[soapstar]

I still don’t understand why their security team made the decision to put them in a taxi. I know that they said it was done to shake the paps, but it just seems like a huge security risk. They went from being driven around by a vetted and experienced driver, to a random taxi driver. All during what they call a “catastrophic car chase.” I just don’t understand why their security thought that was a good option. Plus, they were already at the police station, so why get into a taxi? Why not just stay and ask for a police escort?

Omid Scoobie claims that the Sussexes’ driver was going 80 mph to avoid the paps. So if true, their security didn’t help the situation.

“When you read the statement you assume it’s some sort of Fast and the Furious situation in the middle of New York City, which we know crawls at a snail’s pace. It was sort of a game of cat and mouse, sometimes their car sat in traffic surrounded by photographers on bikes and cars behind them, and then there were moments when the road was clear and the car went up to 80 mph trying to lose some of the people that were following them.”

Source

The BBC has put together a timeline of what we know so far and Telegraph have put together the various accounts from people involved.

BBC Timeline

The Telegraph

 

[Alison H]

The whole thing seems to have been handled very badly. They must surely have realised that photographers would be waiting at a high profile event which they knew the Sussexes would be attending, and that they would be followed. As other people have said, they would have done better to go to a hotel afterwards. And it seems very odd to jump out of a car and hail a random taxi to try to escape a pursuer - it might look exciting in a James Bond film but it's a pretty weird thing to do in real life.

 

[TLLK]

I still don’t understand why their security team made the decision to put them in a taxi. I know that they said it was done to shake the paps, but it just seems like a huge security risk. They went from being driven around by a vetted and experienced driver, to a random taxi driver. All during what they call a “catastrophic car chase.” I just don’t understand why their security thought that was a good option. Plus, they were already at the police station, so why get into a taxi? Why not just stay and ask for a police escort?

Omid Scoobie claims that the Sussexes’ driver was going 80 mph to avoid the paps. So if true, their security didn’t help the situation.



The BBC has put together a timeline of what we know so far and Telegraph have put together the various accounts from people involved.

BBC Timeline

The Telegraph

Thank you. This is exactly what I am wondering about especially their decision to leave the private SUV for a random taxi.

 

[Katariina]

I can still understand wanting to shake of paparazzi, but I can’t understand not wearing seatbelts in this day as age. I hope that’s not true or they could end up in accident that’s not even related to paparazzi.

 

[irish_royalist]

I can still understand wanting to shake of paparazzi, but I can’t understand not wearing seatbelts in this day as age. I hope that’s not true or they could end up in accident that’s not even related to paparazzi.

Very, very fishy.

 

[Springbee]

does not explain why they were taking a taxi, when they are apparnetly very frightened of being exposed to photographers. why not drive in a safe limo with bodyguards and tinted windows and a safe driver

It also does not explain why none of them were wearing seatbelts. In all the pictures we have seen from the car none of them are wearing seatbelts. It still boggles my mind that if they were that frightened why were they not wearing them?

 

[Granada]

I guess The Sussex's are VERY fortunate that their Driver going *allegedly* 80 miles an hour didn't lose control IN a SUV, and hit a pedestrian or another car, causing injuries or death.
Who was in charge here ? What a an incompetent fool.

I still can't figure out how this situation spiralled so badly out of control.

Security wise risks, and now a PR disaster. ALL The Sussex's own actions. Due to authorizing-releasing that exaggerated "near catastrophe" Statement and ridiculously hopping into a Cab to evade the paparazzi. This whole "exercise in futility" would make a fabulous skit on Saturday Night Live !

Or South Park !

The Sussex's are entering Kardashian Territory. Notorious. BIG buck$, but zero gravitas. I wonder what their new PR -Business Venture Partnership Guru Ari Emmanuel makes of this ?

They just can't seem to help themselves. Someone should tell them to go silent for the rest of the year. If you can't deal with paparazzi after a well publicized Award Show in NY City, you CERTAINLY need better Advisors and Security.

Reflect, re-group and re-launch. They wanted to be global agents and influencers of note. Instead they are making fools of themselves. Bad decisions abound.

 

[Dantheman]

MonacoRoyalFan. They were at a Police Station also. "IF" there had been any real danger, The Cops would have taken control of the situation and insisted on taking them to their destination. The Police would never have left high profile individuals, regardless of the Couple wishes, embark in danger. Never.

Its now turning into a joke and farce now. All orchestrated in an attempt by The Sussex's to gin up sympathy and support. As their popularity and respect here in the US continues its nose dive.
The Statement released by their Spokesperson
certainly opened "Pandora's Box".

I agreee with all this and to be totally transparent it does feel like they’ve exaggerated it for publicity purposes in my humble opinion. I understand the paps may have been there but they do also seem to use the media when it suits them - I think it’s unfortunate that they claim to be greatly upset by the media yet court it at the same time with Netflix; regularly updating Omid Scobie so he can publicly speak for them etc. I do think it is unnecessary for the couple to reveal that the royal family hadn’t contacted them - for a couple who promote the idea of privacy they have no hesitation in disregarding the royal family privacy to support their own positions. Again just my humble opinion

 

[US Royal Watcher]

Due to the disgraceful tone of the coverage from some news outlets and royal watchers, I feel the need to say this.

The car chase with paparazzi would've been very triggering for Prince Harry.

If their driver had lost control of the car, it would indeed be "near-catastrophic". That's the point.

[…]

Losing control of the car would likely have been actually catastrophic in that area of New York. If they were going 80 miles per hour (hard to believe that is possible in Manhattan), pedestrians and other drivers were in far more danger than Harry and Meghan, who were in a large SUV.

I'm sorry that Harry may have been "triggered," but that is no excuse for endangering other people's lives. If they thought they were in danger, they should have driven to the nearest police station. If they knew that these were just photographers, they should have behaved more responsibly. I'm sure the photographers were annoying but being annoyed is no excuse for being reckless.

 

[duchessrachel]

He seemed to understand so little.

Sadly, that is true.

 

[kalnel]

It also does not explain why none of them were wearing seatbelts. In all the pictures we have seen from the car none of them are wearing seatbelts. It still boggles my mind that if they were that frightened why were they not wearing them?

I remember when Diana died there was a lot of discussion that security protocols have people being guarded NOT wear seatbelts, in case they have to be moved quickly.

I have no idea if that's still the case, but I remember a lot of discussion about it at the time.