A package sent to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle causing a major security scare is being treated as a racist hate crime. White powder and a malicious message were reportedly found in the package, which was addressed to the Royal couple who live at St James’s Palace.

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers are also investigating an allegation of malicious communications which relates to the same package, and it is being treated as a racist hate crime. ‘The matter is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.’ The substance was tested and not found to be suspicious, the Metropolitan Police added.

Police have launched an investigation after the letter was delivered to the royal residence in central London on February 12. No arrests have been made.

St James’s Palace is home to several members of the Royal Family and their household offices. The residence is situated around two miles from Kensington Palace, where Prince Harry lives with his soon-to-be wife Meghan Markle. Ms Markle, whose father is Caucasian and mother is African-American, said in a BBC interview in November that it had been ‘disheartening’ to receive negative attention about her ethnicity in the early period of her relationship with Harry.