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Suspicious package sent to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle probed as 'racist hate crime'

Police are investigating a suspicious package that was sent to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as a "racist hate crime," Scotland Yard said Thursday.

Incident comes weeks after letter containing white powder forced partial evacuation of Parliament office

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are due to marry this May at Windsor Castle in the English county of Berkshire. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

Police are investigating a suspicious package that was sent to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as a "racist hate crime," Scotland Yard said Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police force said "a package containing a substance" was delivered to St. James's Palace in England, where Harry has his office, on Feb. 12. 

Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating the incident as an alleged malicious communication offence, "and it is being treated as a racist hate crime," it said.

The Evening Standard newspaper reported that the package was a letter containing white powder and a racist message.

The prince and Markle are due to marry May 19 at Windsor Castle.

Earlier this month, a letter containing white powder was sent to an office at Parliament, leading to a partial evacuation of the building. It also was found to be non-toxic.


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