NYC Cabbie Sukhcharn Singh ‘Rescues’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle From Paparazzi

A New York City cab driver is being lauded for rescuing Prince Harry, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, and her mother Doria Ragland from being chased by paparazzi after they exited an event in Manhattan. Sukhcharn Singh, 37, was driving on 67th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, he was flagged down by a man in a suit, he told The New York Daily News. He said his “high-profile” fares were “nervous.” As they were still being chased by the paparazzi despite switching cars, Singh circled the block. He eventually dropped the three at the 19th Precinct station house, he told the Daily News. 

A video posted by TMZ showed the couple in a yellow cab stuck in traffic several blocks away from the ballroom, as photographers recorded them through the windows. The cab was being escorted by NYPD vehicles with flashing lights. Markle was in New York to accept the Women of Vision Award with Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown.

A statement released to the Associated Press this morning by Prince Harry and Meghan’s office after the May 16 incident described the “near catastrophic chase” as “potentially dangerous,” stirring memories of the 1997 car crash that killed Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. It “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers,” the statement added. “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.” However, Singh told the AP that while the paparazzi were “following us the whole time,” he wouldn’t call it a chase.

Singh said the royals, whom he described to the Daily News as being “quite nice,” didn’t speak much to him. “They asked me my name and I only gave them my nickname ‘Sonny,’ since my real name is hard.” They also paid his fare — $17 — and left a generous tip. “It was pretty good man,” he told the AP. “They gave me a $50.”

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He received a call from the Taxi and Limousine commissioner for his efforts, Singh, a cab driver for the last four years told the Daily News, adding that he doesn’t intend to bask in the fame, and got back to work only hours later. He wasn’t “shocked” of his riders, he admitted. “I’ve had Keith Richards in my cab before. Driving around Manhattan, you pick up a lot of celebrities.”

(Top photo: Screenshots of New York Post. Photo of Singh by Gregory P. Mango.)