A representative for Prince Harry has categorically denied allegations suggesting that the Duke of Sussex maintains a private room in a high-end hotel near Montecito, ostensibly to take time away from his wife, Meghan Markle.

Recently, The Sun reported that Prince Harry often spends time in the said hotel and the renowned San Vicente Bungalows, a private club in Los Angeles, which he reportedly views as a personal sanctuary. The report further claimed that guests of this exclusive club are strictly prohibited from discussing anything they see or photographing within the premises. However, Prince Harry's representative promptly rejected these assertions, asserting to Page Six that these reports are baseless.

These reports emerged shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle commemorated their fifth wedding anniversary on May 19. This period also witnessed the public reacting sharply to a harrowing car chase incident involving the couple in New York City on May 16.

Following their attendance at the "Women of Vision Awards" at Manhattan's Ziegfeld Theater, where Meghan was honored, the couple along with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, were purportedly hounded by paparazzi. In an attempt to evade the photographers, they abandoned their SUV and instead boarded a yellow taxi. A source reported that the number of paparazzi dwindled from twelve to four during the chase, despite their security's best efforts to lose them. Prince Harry, meanwhile, filmed the relentless photographers for potential evidence.

A representative for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex described the incident as a "near catastrophic car chase" instigated by "highly aggressive paparazzi" in a statement. They highlighted the resulting danger to other drivers, pedestrians, and 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 continued, adding that the alarming incident had left Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Doria Ragland in shock and fear.

New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, criticized the reckless behavior of the paparazzi and emphasized the paramount importance of public safety.

However, not everyone is convinced about the car chase incident, especially given New York City's dense population. Co-host of "The View," Whoopi Goldberg, voiced her skepticism about the possibility of a high-speed chase in New York City. Counterpointing Goldberg, co-host Sunny Hostin defended the couple's account, reminding viewers of the tragic fate of Princess Diana, Prince Harry's mother, who died in a car crash while pursued by paparazzi.