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The photo agency that took pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during what they claimed was a dangerous car chase declined a request for photos of the incident.
Backgrid told BBC News that he had refused a legal request to share all the material shot over several hours in New York City on Tuesday night.
Lawyers for the agency said Americans have long rejected “royal privileges.”
The BBC has not independently verified the request from the Sussex legal team.
Conflicting testimony has surfaced in what Prince Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson described as a “nearly catastrophic car chase” since the incident was made public on Wednesday.
The New York Police Department said “a large number of photographers” made the couple’s trip “difficult” on Tuesday night, but added that “there were no reports of collisions, summons, injuries or arrests.”
A taxi driver who briefly drove them suggested that their publicist’s account was “exaggerated,” but some of the photographers involved denied that.
Entertainment video agency Backgrid announced Thursday that it has received a letter from the Sussexes’ legal team.
“We request Backgrid to immediately provide copies of all photos, videos and films taken by the freelance photographers last night within hours of leaving the event,” the letter said. It is said that it was written that
BBC News has reached out to the Sussexes for comment.
The agency responded in a letter, saying, “As you know, in America, property belongs to its owner. Perhaps a third party simply gives it away, as the Kings do.” cannot be demanded.”
“Perhaps you should sit down with your client and advise him that his British rule on royal prerogatives requiring citizens to hand over property to the King was long ago rejected by this country.
“We stand with our founding fathers.”
A spokesperson for the Sussexes said Wednesday that paparazzi “relentlessly chased” nearly the couple in Manhattan after the couple left the awards ceremony on Tuesday night, resulting in “multiple crashes.”
Backgrid said at the time that he was investigating the conduct of four freelance photographers involved in the Sussex photo shoot, although he disputed the characterization of the Sussex incident.
The photographers felt the couple were not in “imminent danger at any point,” the agency said.
During the chase, the vehicle carrying the Duke and Duchess, their mother and a security guard was twice diverted to a nearby police station.
BBC News interviewed taxi driver Sukchan “Sonny” Singh, who was briefly involved in the chase. He said his taxi had been called from the police station.
They had only driven one block when his cab was “blocked by a garbage truck and all of a sudden the paparazzi came up and started taking pictures.”
Mr Singh was then asked to drive them back to the police station.
A spokeswoman for the Duke and Duchess said they understand they are public figures, but their interest “should never come at the expense of anyone’s safety.”
In a BBC documentary, Prince Harry described his anger at the paparazzi’s behavior over the years, comparing photographers to a “pack of dogs” that followed his mother.
Princess Diana died from injuries sustained in a car accident after photographers chased her car through the streets of Paris.
“It’s very hard for me to see another woman in my life who I love go through this kind of eating craziness,” he said in the recent Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. .
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