'Suspicious' Duke of Sussex accuses NYPD of cover-up in unseen emails demanding arrests
Prince Harry's frustration with the New York Police Department (NYPD) over the investigation into the May 2023 car chase involving paparazzi has come to light through letters and emails obtained by DailyMail.com. The correspondence reveals that Harry, through his security team, expressed suspicion of a cover-up and claimed to have been misled by the NYPD's handling of the case. He demanded that arrests be made the day after the incident and threatened to file an official complaint if there was no progress. The emails indicate Harry's dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation and his belief that the situation was not being handled properly.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the Ziegfeld Theatre in Manhattan on May 16, 2023. Later this night after meeting their private security company, they'd allegedly be chased down by paparazzi during a bizarre 'two-hour' car chase
The demand for action from Prince Harry came after John Hart, the NYPD's top intelligence officer, sent two letters to the police in London regarding the May 2023 car chase incident. The first letter, sent in September 2023, stated that there was insufficient evidence to make arrests. However, three months later, in December, Hart sent a second letter, which indicated that there was now enough evidence to make arrests for reckless endangerment. Despite this, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
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Meghan received the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Award and posed with journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem
The second letter from Hart arrived at a pivotal time for Prince Harry, as it coincided with a High Court hearing in London where he was seeking to have his security protection reinstated during visits to the UK. This hearing was part of his legal challenge against the British government's decision to downgrade his security status after stepping back from royal duties.
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The couple said in a statement that after they left the ceremony they were involved in a 'near catastrophic car chase' involving a 'a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi'
The frustration from Prince Harry over the NYPD's investigation into the May 2023 car chase became more evident when his security company, TorchStone, sent an email expressing that Harry felt "intentionally misled" by the slow pace of the inquiry. As a result, Harry requested help from California Governor Gavin Newsom, seeking a contact within the Manhattan District Attorney's office, and indicated that he was prepared to escalate the matter further if necessary.
The car chase incident occurred after Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Ms. Foundation for Women of Vision Award at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on May 16, 2023. The couple later issued a statement claiming that they had been involved in a "near catastrophic car chase" involving "a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi" who followed them through the streets of Manhattan. Despite these claims, some skeptics, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, have questioned the veracity of the incident, given the heavy traffic typical of the area at the time.
Omid Scobie, a biographer of the Sussexes, claimed the 'pursuit went on for two hours' with speeds up to 80 miles an hour' but New York's Mayor Eric Adams said it was 'hard to believe' there was a high speed car chase through Manhattan's crowded streets
Chris Sanchez, a member of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's security team from TorchStone, described the car chase as "chaotic" and suggested it "could have been fatal," recounting that photographers were ruthlessly jumping curbs and running through red lights in pursuit of the couple. Footage from TMZ showed Harry and Meghan in a taxi during part of the incident, which added to the dramatic narrative they shared.
Omid Scobie, a biographer of the Sussexes, further fueled the story by claiming that the chase lasted for two hours and that their car reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. However, this account was met with skepticism from various observers, particularly because of the typical heavy traffic on Manhattan's streets, making such a high-speed pursuit seem implausible to some. Critics questioned the plausibility of the claims, casting doubt on the extent and nature of the chase described by Harry and Meghan's team.
New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed skepticism about the lengthy high-speed car chase described by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, calling it "hard to believe." Meanwhile, emails obtained by DailyMail.com through a Freedom of Information request reveal that Harry's team persistently pressed the NYPD for updates on the incident.
One of the key documents was a letter from the NYPD, dated September 18, 2023, which was addressed to Richard Smith, the Chief Superintendent Commander for Royalty and Specialty Protection at the Metropolitan Police in London. The letter stated that the NYPD had conducted a thorough review of the incident and concluded that the behavior of the photographers involved was reckless. However, the NYPD also determined that there was not enough evidence to make an arrest at that time. This initial assessment of the situation appeared to further fuel Harry's dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation.
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The letter sent on September 18, 2023, said that a thorough review of the incident had taken place on May 16, 2023, and they concluded 'that the behavior in question was reckless' but they 'did not have sufficient evidence to arrest an individual'
In their statement following the May 2023 incident, the NYPD acknowledged that "numerous photographers made their (the Sussexes') transport challenging." However, they also emphasized that despite the difficult situation, there were no reported collisions, injuries, summonses, or arrests related to the incident. Julian Phillips, the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information, added that the couple ultimately arrived at their destination safely.
Later, John Hart, the NYPD's Chief of Intelligence, had a 30-minute meeting via Microsoft Teams with three representatives from TorchStone, Harry and Meghan's security firm. The meeting was likely part of ongoing discussions between the NYPD and Harry's team regarding the investigation into the incident.
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| The NYPD's top intelligence officer John Hart revised his original statement that there was no probable cause to arrest any of the photographers involved in a later letter |
The subject of the Microsoft Teams meeting between John Hart and representatives from TorchStone was noted as "NYC Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex," referring to their planned trip to New York in October 2023 for World Mental Health Day. The emails from that time do not indicate whether the matter of revising the NYPD's letter about the May 2023 incident was discussed during the meeting, nor was an agenda provided in the materials that were released.
Subsequently, on December 6, 2023, Hart sent a second letter to the police in London, with the subject line "as discussed." This letter was also shared with TorchStone. It marked a revision of the earlier communication, as it indicated that there was now sufficient evidence to make arrests for reckless endangerment related to the paparazzi chase. This update came after months of investigation and heightened pressure from Harry's team for a resolution.
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Then, on December 6, 2023, Hart sent the second letter to TorchStone, the private security firm used by the Duke. This time the document was titled 'Duke and Duchess Revised'. Hart wrote in the subject line 'as discussed'
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The letter was the same as the first one except for one key difference - this time the NYPD said tthere ws 'sufficient evidence' to arrest two people
The second letter from John Hart to the police in London, sent on December 6, 2023, was similar to the first but included a significant update: it stated that there was now "sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment" in connection with the May 2023 car chase incident. This revision seemed to offer a sense of vindication for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as it indicated that the NYPD had found evidence that could potentially lead to arrests.
The timing of this letter was also crucial for Prince Harry, as December 6 was the second day of a three-day High Court hearing in London. During this hearing, Harry was seeking to compel the British government to provide him with full royal security protection during visits to the UK, following the government's decision to downgrade his security after stepping back from royal duties. The letter from the NYPD may have provided some support to his arguments regarding the risks posed by paparazzi and his need for heightened security.
During the High Court proceedings, Prince Harry was challenging the decision made in 2020 by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures to downgrade his security status after he stepped back from his role as a working royal. Harry's lawyer read an emotional statement on his behalf, in which Harry expressed that without proper protection, he would not feel safe bringing his family back to the UK. He emphasized his concern for Meghan's safety, stating, "I can't put my wife in danger like that." He also reflected on his past experiences, acknowledging his reluctance to "unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too," highlighting his fears for the well-being of his family given the ongoing media attention and paparazzi threats.
In his final ruling in February 2024, Sir Peter Lane, the presiding judge in Prince Harry's case, noted that Harry's lawyer had presented a letter dated December 6, 2023, from the Chief of Intelligence in the New York City Police Department. The judge acknowledged that the letter, which stated that there was sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment in relation to the paparazzi chase, was an important factor in understanding the potential risks Harry and his family faced from the paparazzi.
However, despite considering this evidence, the judge ultimately ruled against Harry's request for the British government to provide him with the same level of security he had enjoyed while being a working royal. The court decided that the government's decision to downgrade his protection status would stand.
Even after receiving the revised letter from the NYPD, Harry continued to express his frustration. On December 21, 2023, a representative from TorchStone, Harry's security company, sent an email to John Hart, the NYPD's Chief of Intelligence. In the email, Harry's team conveyed his dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the investigation and his concerns about how the matter was being handled. The email indicated that Harry was still pressing for action, including the arrest of the paparazzi involved in the chase.
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TorchStone sent a letter to Hart on December 21, 2023, expressing the Duke's frustration over the lack of action the NYPD has taken now that probable cause was established. The representative stated Prince Harry felt 'intentionally misled and is suspicious of a cover-up'
The email sent on December 21, 2023, from TorchStone to Chief Hart emphasized Prince Harry's frustration with the slow pace of the NYPD's investigation into the May 2023 car chase incident. It stated that Harry had requested that certain actions be taken by that Friday, just before Christmas, or he would move forward with an official complaint to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
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Harry was fighting to get back added protection in the UK that had been removed after the couple stepped back from their royal duties. He used Hart's letter during proceedings, but a judge ruled against him
Harry’s team made it clear that he was expecting one of two things: either the paparazzi responsible for the chase should be arrested, or an official explanation should be provided detailing why they had not been arrested. Additionally, they requested a letter from the DA's office clarifying why charges had not been pursued. The email suggested that Harry was determined to escalate the matter if the situation was not resolved promptly.
In the email sent by TorchStone, Prince Harry's team indicated his intention to file a formal complaint about the handling of the paparazzi chase incident and questioned whether the Manhattan District Attorney's office had the necessary evidence to pursue charges against the photographers. They also mentioned that Harry had reached out to California Governor Gavin Newsom's office to help facilitate contact with the Manhattan DA's office or higher authorities for further discussions.
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