Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were involved in what the couple’s office said was a “near-catastrophic” chase in a car by photographers following a charity event in New York

According to reports, the pair, together with Meghan’s mother, were followed for more than two hours by a half-dozen vehicles with blacked-out windows after leaving the event.

The chase, the office said “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers.

“While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety,” the statement from the couple said.

Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris.