Meghan Markle sparks security alert after personal phone number leaks in school WhatsApp group

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Meghan Markle reportedly sparked a security alert after her personal cellphone number was leaked in a WhatsApp group for school parents shortly before Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet began attending a UK school.

The incident comes as Meghan and Prince Harry face renewed security concerns surrounding their family’s return to the UK.

Meghan Markle’s phone number leaked in WhatsApp group

The Duchess of Sussex’s cellphone number was reportedly leaked in a WhatsApp chat for school parents that she joined the night before Archie and Lilibet had their first day at a UK school, according to the Sun on Tuesday, September 15. 

A screenshot posted by the outlet showed two mothers welcoming Meghan to the group.

One message read, “Welcome to Meghan who has Archie joining tomorrow,” while another said, “Welcome!!” Markle responded, “Hi moms! Thanks for the warm welcome. So happy to be a part of this community.”

Following the interaction, someone in the group reportedly took a screenshot of the conversation, which included Meghan’s phone number. The screenshot has since been shared multiple times following the leak.

The incident comes after Meghan and Harry abruptly pulled their children out of the UK school just two days after classes began over security concerns.

According to Hello! magazine, heavy traffic to and from the school was putting pressure on their small security team.

“The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” a representative for the couple told the outlet.

An insider also said Harry and Meghan had completed security checks at the school before the term began but were unable to test the school run.

“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents,” the source said.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry face security review

Meanwhile, Meghan has reportedly been granted her first government-backed security review.

Both she and Harry will receive an official risk assessment soon, according to the Telegraph, after being asked by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, or RAVEC, to provide full details of their new daily routines.

Harry was reportedly informed by the RAVEC chairman last week that he and Meghan would be subject to a new risk assessment following their move back to the UK. 

Meghan also shared an intimate Instagram video on Sunday showing the family’s return to Harry’s home country. The footage included Lilibet riding her bike as Archie ran beside her, as well as Harry taking his children out on a boat to fish.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield described the decision to share intimate family moments online as “striking” in its “hypocrisy.”

She told Page Six that if privacy was genuinely the priority, the family could stop broadcasting their lives to millions of strangers.

Schofield added that sharing glimpses of the children, dogs, countryside and domestic routine could invite more attention and questions about where and how the family was living.

Harry celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, with Meghan again sharing family moments online.

“He’s simply the best,” she captioned an Instagram Reel set to a song of the same name by 'The Hound + The Fox' and added, “Happy birthday, my love.”