Former London Police Officers Guilty of Sending Shocking Racist Messages About Meghan Markle and Royal Family on WhatsApp

In a shocking revelation, five former London police officers have admitted to sending grossly offensive racist messages to each other on WhatsApp. The messages included references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. The officers, who have all retired, were charged after an investigation by BBC's Newsnight program. The messages, sent between August 2018 and September 2022, contained racist comments about Meghan, whose mother is Black and father is white. One message even included a picture of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

The former officers, all in their 60s, pleaded guilty to sending offensive messages at a hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court. Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, expressed his dismay, stating that the racist and discriminatory content of these messages is absolutely appalling. He acknowledged that this case may further damage confidence in policing, given that the defendants were once serving as police officers. The London force has been plagued by scandal recently, with an independent review finding it to be institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic.

The five men had worked in various departments within the police force, including the Diplomatic Protection Group, which has seen its fair share of controversies as well. In the past year alone, one former member was convicted of murder and rape, while another was jailed for committing numerous sex offenses. This revelation comes at a time when the British royal family is already under intense scrutiny regarding issues of discrimination and racism.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who is biracial, have spoken out about the racism they experienced within the institution, leading them to step away from their royal duties in early 2020. The former officers will be sentenced on the same day, while another former officer who denied the charges is due to stand trial on November 6th. The Metropolitan Police force, under new leadership, has pledged to rid itself of unsuitable individuals among its personnel. Nonetheless, this case serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to address racism within the police and society at large.