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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were sent suspicious package with racist message

The Metropolitan Police force says "a package containing a substance" was delivered to St. James's Palace, where Harry has his office, on Feb. 12.
/ Source: The Associated Press

LONDON — Police are investigating a suspicious package that was sent to Prince Harry and his fiancée 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, where Harry has his office, on Feb. 12.

Image: Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry, meet members of the public during a walkabout on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry meet members of the public during a walkabout on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, Britain, on Feb. 13, 2018.Andrew Milligan / Pool via Reuters file

The force said the substance "was tested and confirmed as non-suspicious."

Related: Meghan Markle's engagement to Prince Harry exposes 'quiet' racism

The force said counterterrorism detectives are investigating the incident as an alleged malicious communication offense, "and it is being treated as a racist hate crime."

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.