Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been caught up in an anthrax scare after a 'racist' poison pen letter containing white powder was reportedly addressed and sent to the couple.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command were called into St James' Palace after the letter was received on 12 February. The Police are reportedly treating the case as a 'racist hate crime'.

The Evening Standard reports the letter - which is now being investigated by Scotland Yard - was delivered to St James's Palace for sorting. Analysis of the powder found it was harmless.

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Security measures meant the package was intercepted before it reached the soon-to-be married couple and was first opened by a member of staff. Markle and Prince Harry are understood to have been informed and were spotted a day later meeting the public in Edinburgh.

The publication also reports that on 13 February, police revealed a package containing white powder had been sent to Parliament, reportedly to the office of Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

The powder was also found to be harmless and police are believed to be examining whether the two incidents are linked. So far, there have been no arrests.

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In the lead up to the pair's wedding, it's widely thought the Met Police is now on high alert, with security under constant review.

Thames Valley Police has reportedly bought a net of spikes which can stop a vehicle weighing up to 17 tonnes and be deployed in less than a minute, reports the Evening Standard.

Earlier this month, Kensington Palace revealed the newlyweds will ride around a public route in a carriage after marrying at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday 19 May.

Following the Anthrax scare, Markle has been assigned a team from the Met's royalty and specialist protection command.

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Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by spore-forming bacteria and can be fatal.

The Suits star has previously spoken out about racism and stereotypes.

In 2015, the 36-year-old wrote a piece titled 'I'm More Than An "Other"' for ELLE UK in which she penned: 'While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that.

'To say who I am, to share where I'm from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman.'

We're glad to hear Meghan and Harry are safe and well.

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Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.