Their route took them left on 33rd Street, following its one-way direction, eventually ending up at another garage on 33rd Street, located just 200 feet from their starting point.
This extravagant procession included seven imposing, blacked-out SUVs, which are often considered gas guzzlers, and was accompanied by NYPD escorts as they navigated the streets of Manhattan. However, eagle-eyed royal enthusiasts have noticed an interesting detail.
According to observations on the Roy Grift YouTube channel, when an NYPD escort is in place, the vehicles involved usually display flashing lights to signify the police presence. However, in a video obtained by The Daily Mail, there were no flashing lights accompanying Meghan's entourage.
This observation has raised questions among several royal fans about the accuracy of Harry and Meghan's claims. One user expressed their skepticism, pointing out the absence of a police escort and accusing the couple of misleading the press, arguing that the vehicles weren't even police cars. Another commenter echoed this skepticism, asserting that the couple had indeed fabricated their convoy, as there was no police escort, and the Chevrolet Suburbans and SUVs appeared to be privately hired vehicles meant to enhance their image.
A commenter claiming to reside in the area confirmed that only one car with two press occupants closely followed the couple. Even when questioned about the incident on air, the press personnel allegedly shrugged and admitted that they simply needed a close-up photo opportunity with Harry and Meghan. The commenter further suggested that the cars were likely hired as part of their effort to appear important.
This situation contrasts with Prince William's previous visit to New York, which featured a relatively modest entourage of four vehicles. This entourage included a marked white police car with flashing lights at the front, followed by an unmarked car without visible lights and two unmarked black SUVs, all of which had flashing lights. The suggestion here is that they may have enlisted off-duty police officers to serve as their private security detail instead of having an official police escort.
Nevertheless, uncertainties remain regarding Harry and Meghan's account of a previous visit to the city in May. At that time, their spokesperson described the car journey as nearly catastrophic, emphasizing their ordeal during a relentless 2-hour pursuit by highly aggressive paparazzi. This description contrasts with the New York police's assessment, which characterized the incident as somewhat chaotic rather than nearly catastrophic.
Julian Phillips, Deputy Commissioner of Public Information in New York, disclosed that the NYPD provided assistance to the couple's private security team. Amidst these conflicting accounts, New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed sympathy for the couple, condemning the reckless and irresponsible actions of the paparazzi while expressing doubts about the existence of a two-hour high-speed chase.
