September 8th 2023.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage caused an uproar among British officials. Five former British police officers, Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall, and Trevor Lewton, admitted to sending racist messages about the royal couple in a closed WhatsApp group, according to NBC News. The group also included messages about U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former interior minister Priti Patel, former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, and other members of the royal family.
The officers were all members of London's Metropolitan Police Force, responsible for guarding politicians and diplomats. The messages were sent between 2020 and 2022, when none of the suspects were employed by the police force. Other messages included talks of the U.K. government's plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and the floods in Pakistan.
This isn't the first time British police have been involved in a scandal regarding Meghan Markle. In 2022, two officers were dismissed after WhatsApp messages were made public, revealing racist conversations. One of the messages was even sent during Meghan and Harry's 2018 wedding.
Racism has played a huge role in the Prince and his bride's decision to move their family to America in 2020. In 2021, Harry told Oprah Winfrey in an interview that he regrets not speaking out against the racism against his wife sooner. "My biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in the relationship with my wife in calling out the racism when I did," Harry said.
The five former police officers are due to be sentenced on November 6. A sixth officer, Michael Chadwell, denied one count of the charge and is due back in court on the same day. It is yet to be seen what consequences the officers will face, but it is safe to say that the public will be watching.
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