Meghan Markle is facing a fresh privacy and security concern just weeks after returning to the U.K. with Prince Harry and their two children.
The Duchess of Sussex's personal phone number was reportedly exposed after she joined a WhatsApp group for parents at a school attended by Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
© Meghan Markle/InstagramThe incident comes amid an already eventful start to the school year for the Sussex children, who recently changed schools following concerns raised by the family's private security team.
According to The Sun, Meghan joined a parents' WhatsApp chat the night before her children began classes at their original U.K. school. A screenshot published by the outlet showed parents welcoming the Duchess to the group.
© Alexi Lubomirski / Archewell"Hi moms! Thanks for the warm welcome. So happy to be a part of this community xx," Meghan reportedly responded. However, the screenshot was subsequently circulated outside the private group, exposing the phone number associated with Meghan's account.
It has since been reported that the Duchess's number was leaked after she joined the parents' chat. The privacy breach adds another layer to the security concerns surrounding the Sussex family following their move back to Britain after six years based in California.
© Getty ImagesArchie and Lilibet's sudden school change:
The incident emerged just days after it was confirmed that Archie and Lilibet had left their first British school only two days into the new term.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed that the decision followed discussions with their security team and was based on the logistics surrounding the children's daily journey.
© Courtesy of Archewell"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," the spokesperson said.
The couple also stressed that the move was not a reflection on the school or its staff, adding that they remained "extremely grateful" for the care their children had received.
© @meghanITV News reported that the family's security personnel became concerned after experiencing the school run in real-world conditions. Heavy traffic reportedly separated the vehicle carrying the Sussex family from the car containing their private security personnel.
Other concerns included the amount of time the family could spend stationary in traffic, keeping the two vehicles together and the security implications of following the same predictable route each day.
© Getty Images for TIMEFollowing an assessment of another school, Archie and Lilibet reportedly attended a taster day on Monday before beginning their first full day there on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
A new chapter in Britain:
Harry and Meghan relocated their family to the U.K. in late August, marking a significant new chapter after six years in California.
While the Duke and Duchess are retaining their Montecito home, they have established a non-royal base in Britain. Archie, who was born in London in 2019, and Lilibet, who was born in California in 2021, are attending school in their father's home country for the first time together.
© TheStewartofNYA source close to the family previously told PEOPLE that getting the children settled "has been, and remains, their focus," adding that the family was "happy to be back."
The move has also brought renewed attention to Harry's long-running concerns about his family's protection in Britain.
© MeghanMarkle/InstagramHarry and Meghan's security under review:
The Duke and Duchess are currently paying for their own private security, but their circumstances are being reassessed following their return to the U.K.
ITV News reported that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, has decided that Harry should receive a new review following his change in residency. Meghan is also set to undergo her own risk assessment, her first since the couple stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020.
© Getty ImagesThe assessments do not mean that Harry and Meghan will automatically receive taxpayer-funded police protection. Instead, their new circumstances, including their permanent presence in Britain and their children's attendance at a British school, will be considered as part of the process.
Security has remained a particularly sensitive subject for Harry since the Sussexes stepped away from royal duties. He previously pursued legal action over changes to his police protection and has publicly expressed concerns about bringing Meghan and their children to Britain without what he considers adequate security.
Now, just weeks into the family's new life in the U.K., the children's unexpected school change and the exposure of Meghan's personal phone number have once again put privacy and security at the center of the Sussexes' return.
