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Was Prince Harry in a car accident recently in california
Executive summary
Available reporting does not show Prince Harry was recently injured in a California car accident; recent articles use the phrase “car crash” metaphorically about a BBC interview and recount earlier incidents such as a 2023 New York paparazzi “car chase” in which Harry and Meghan were not in a crash [1] [2] [3]. Multiple outlets describe the May 2025 BBC interview as a public relations “car crash” rather than a literal traffic collision [1].
1. “Car crash” as metaphor — not a traffic collision
Several articles published in May 2025 characterize Prince Harry’s BBC interview as a “car crash” in the figurative sense: critics and commentators used the phrase to describe an interview they considered damaging to Harry’s position with the royal family, and Buckingham Palace coverage noted support after that “car crash” of messaging rather than reporting a physical accident [1].
2. No recent California traffic accident reported in these sources
The set of provided search results contains no news item stating Harry was recently involved in a traffic accident in California. Instead, coverage centers on reactions to his BBC interview and related social-media posts by Meghan Markle; there is no citation here reporting a new car crash involving Harry in California (available sources do not mention a new California traffic accident).
3. Past safety incident often conflated: the 2023 “car chase” in New York
Reporting and context in these sources recall a May 2023 episode described as a “near catastrophic car chase” involving Harry and Meghan in New York, where their team reported a chaotic paparazzi pursuit; follow-up reporting explicitly stated they were not in an actual crash or collision [2] [3]. USA Today summarized that they “were not in a car crash or accident” during that 2023 incident [3].
4. Media language and why confusion spreads
Tabloid and commentary outlets frequently employ dramatic language—terms like “car crash” or “car chase”—both as literal descriptions and as metaphors for reputational damage. The Mirror and RSVP Live pieces focus on Meghan’s social posts and a royal expert’s commentary about the couple’s public standing after Harry’s BBC appearance, which can amplify confusion between figurative and literal meanings [4] [5].
5. What the available sources do report about safety and security issues
Coverage in these results emphasizes broader security concerns: the couple’s previous experiences with aggressive paparazzi, debates about Harry’s security detail, and court battles over protection arrangements are noted as ongoing themes [2] [6]. ABC News coverage references Harry’s legal and security struggles, including the loss of his British police security detail and related public-safety arguments [6].
6. Competing perspectives in the sources
Some outlets frame recent events as damaging to Harry’s standing (calling the interview a “car crash”), while others describe public sympathy or palace support in reaction [1]. Tabloid-oriented pieces focus on Meghan’s social media timing and public perception [4] [5], whereas international outlets place the episode in the context of ongoing family and security disputes [6].
7. How to verify if you see a new claim
If you encounter a headline claiming a new traffic accident involving Prince Harry in California, check whether the story cites on-the-ground law enforcement, medical, or family spokespeople; corroboration from mainstream outlets (BBC, AP, Reuters) is essential. In the sources provided here, no such corroboration appears (available sources do not mention a new California traffic accident).
8. Bottom line for readers
Based on the provided reporting, there is no evidence in these sources that Prince Harry was recently in a car accident in California; references to a “car crash” in May 2025 pertain to reactions to an interview, and the notable earlier incident [7] was a paparazzi “car chase” that did not result in a crash [1] [2] [3]. If you want confirmation beyond these items, seek updates from primary news agencies or official statements from Harry’s representatives or local authorities.