Prince Harry’s police presence will be “enhanced” for his upcoming trip following a “reckless” incident, with taxpayers paying the bill.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, will fly to New York this month, where he will attend the Diana Award Event. He is also set to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives,” a spokesperson for the prince said.
The royal trip will take place during the UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week, which both run from September 21 through 28, and September 22 until 29, respectively.
However, the exact dates of when the Duke will be in the Big Apple have yet to be confirmed.
During his solo trip, which his wife Meghan will not be accompanying him on, the Duke will have increased protection from the New York Police Department (NYPD) – a tax-payer funded organisation.
Writing to the Metropolitan Police in London, the NYPD chief said that they will be “enhancing the security resources afforded to the Duke and Duchess on future visits to the city”.
The ramping up of security comes after Harry and Meghan were pursued by “reckless” paparazzi in a car chase through the city.
In May 2023, the pair, alongside Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, were leaving the Ziegfeld Theatre in Midtown Manhattan when photographers started following them to snap a picture of the trio.
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Meghan and Harry were pursued by paparazzi in a car chase last year
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The intelligence chief of the NYP wrote to the Met back in December: “We found the following: reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws and persistently dangerous and unacceptable behaviour on the part of the paparazzi during the night in question.
“The individuals operated vehicles, scooters, and bicycles in a manner that forced the security team, which included an NYPD Lead Car, to take evasive actions on several occasions and a circuitous route to avoid being struck by pursuing vehicles or trapped on side blocks.
“Our conclusion, upon review with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, is that we have sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment.”
A representative for the Sussexes claimed at the time that they “were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi”.
Prince William and Harry will likely not reunite in New York this month
PA
Prince William’s Earthshot Prize is also holding an event in New York that week, though the future King has decided against appearing in person.
Instead, he will likely send a video message to the Earthshot Innovation Summit, which is scheduled to take place at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan on September 24.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that the overlap between the two events appears to be deliberate.
Fitzwilliams said: “I think the timing was in Harry’s mind when he arranged this simply because he knew it would get extra publicity.
“William does not intend to go over [to New York] for the summit for Earthshot.”
Source Agencies
