The trials and tribulations (and hopefully not tragedies) of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will continue to play out before the eyes of the world.
Because, at this point, it’s their viewfinder that’s managing the scope of what we see – or attempting to, anyway. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are trying desperately to control the narrative of their most recent splash in the limelight.
It’s not going well.
First off, here is a recap of what happened. The couple was leaving an awards ceremony in New York City. One where Markle was honored at the Women of Vision gala, noted for her advocacy on behalf of women and girls. Prince Harry attended, as well as did Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland. The group left in a convoy of vehicles with an entourage that included security personnel but was then hounded, at the very least, by trailing freelance paparazzi angling for a photograph or video.
News of the episode quickly turned into a debate about whether the incident was a “near catastrophic car chase” – potentially injurious to life and limb as the royal couple claims – or if it was merely “challenging,” as the NYPD has described it.
Here’s part of the Sussexs’ take per a statement issued later:
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers,” the spokesperson said.
Somehow, the idea of a high-speed chase took hold, although that assertion was not in the statement. Of course, anyone with any experience in New York City traffic knows that no one travels fast in Manhattan. Gridlock is more like it.
Mayor Eric Adams said as much as did the police.
Subsequent reporting showed that the royal couple was trying to throw the publicity hounds off, pulling into a police precinct and transferring to a cab at one point.
Security experts are now weighing in, critical of the lack of planning and apparent missteps of the people hired by the couple to secure their travel that night.
Prince Harry tried to order the Backgrid photo agency to turn over any images or videos that were taken. Not in America, buddy, not in America.
The legal reply included a remark about this nation’s battle with and the defeat of England for the rights we hold dear, including rights to personal property, public spaces, and press freedoms.
Though it might not be what the couple wants to hear, they are freer in America to proclaim themselves very private people. They are also freer to undercut that contention.
A person would have to be in deep denial, negligently ignorant of the past, not to see the similarities between this ordeal and Princess Diana’s death in 1997. She died
In this file photo, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala at the Hilton Midtown in New York City on Dec. 6, 2022.
Mary Sanchez, Tribune Content Agency
in a Paris tunnel when her car crashed as she tried to escape a frenzied pursuit of the press.
Prince Harry is surely haunted by that crash and fears a repeat incident – this time involving his wife.
And yet, media attention matters so much to them. It’s this cruel dance that they’ve largely chosen for their lives.
To remain relevant in a clickbait, social influencer- dominated America, they must be seen in public; and have it documented. But you can’t always control how that happens.
Carefully staged and crafted interviews with the likes of Oprah to discuss racism within the royal family, a Netflix series detailing their love story, and even the Duke’s very personal autobiography about being the “spare” to the throne only feed the voracious appetite of the celebrity-consuming masses.
Markle is no longer acting. There are no new movies or series to promote. The prince is not a working member of the royal family. He was born into it but decided the royal …
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