Lee Sansum, former bodyguard to the late Princess Diana and her sons Prince William and Prince Harry, voiced his concerns following reports of a potentially dangerous car chase involving Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the paparazzi in New York City.
Sansum, an ex-royal military police officer who protected Princess Diana and her sons during the summer of 1997, prior to her tragic death in a car crash, argued that the public is likely receiving only a fraction of the story from the reported incident on May 16.
"We're likely only getting a glimpse of the actual event based on the reports. The accuracy of the entire narrative remains uncertain," he shared with Fox News Digital.
Drawing from his experience, Sansum noted the detrimental impact of the intrusive nature of the paparazzi, describing their actions as not only oppressive but potentially harmful to the public as well.
"Paparazzi may not necessarily chase at high speeds, but their aggressive maneuvers through traffic while attempting to capture a lucrative photo can put bystanders at risk," Sansum explained.
He also referred to Princess Diana's fatal accident in 1997 as a stark example of the possible tragic outcome of such aggressive paparazzi pursuits. Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul tragically lost their lives during a paparazzi chase in Paris. Their bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, survived but sustained severe injuries.
Earlier this month, representatives for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle alleged that the couple and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, were pursued relentlessly by aggressive paparazzi in Manhattan after departing the Women of Vision Awards ceremony, where Markle was recognized.
There has been skepticism concerning the couple's account of the incident. Some, including Meghan's estranged sister Samantha Markle, suggested it may have been a publicity stunt. Renowned television host Whoopi Goldberg expressed doubts over the feasibility of a high-speed chase in New York City's bustling streets.
However, the couple's spokesperson, Ashley Hansen, categorically denied the allegations that the incident was exaggerated for publicity.
Hansen stated, "Considering the traumatic history the duke has with such incidents, it's utterly disrespectful to suggest this event was staged for publicity. Quite frankly, such insinuations are appalling."
