Meghan Markle’s personal phone number was reportedly leaked in a school parents’ WhatsApp group, prompting a security concern just as her children began school in the UK.
The Duchess of Sussex joined the parents’ chat the night before Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were due to start at the school, according to The Sun.
A screenshot shared by the outlet showed two mothers welcoming Meghan to the group. One message read, “Welcome to Meghan who has Archie joining tomo,” followed by another parent writing, “Welcome!!”
Meghan responded warmly to the group.
“Hi moms! Thanks for the warm welcome ❤️ So happy to be a part of this community xx,” she wrote.
However, the conversation reportedly included Meghan’s personal phone number. Someone in the group is said to have taken a screenshot of the exchange, which was later shared beyond the original chat and circulated multiple times.
The reported leak comes just days after Meghan and Prince Harry decided to remove their children from the UK school after only two days of the new term.
The couple reportedly made the decision after concerns were raised about the practical demands of protecting the family during the daily school run. Heavy traffic around the school was said to have placed additional pressure on their small security team.
A representative for Harry and Meghan said the decision followed discussions with the family’s security team about their current arrangements.
An insider also claimed that security checks had been completed at the school before the children started, but the family had not been able to test the actual school run.
“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents,” the source said.
The reported phone-number leak adds another security concern to the couple’s recent return to the UK.
Harry and Meghan have also reportedly been granted a new government-backed security review. According to The Telegraph, both are expected to undergo an official risk assessment, with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee asking them to provide details about their new daily routines.
The couple’s security arrangements have received renewed attention since their return to Harry’s home country.
At the same time, Meghan has been sharing glimpses of their family life on Instagram. In a video posted Sunday, she showed Lilibet riding her bike, Archie running alongside her and Harry spending time with their children on a boat.
Harry also celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, with Meghan sharing another collection of family moments online.
“He’s simply the best,” she wrote alongside the video. “Happy birthday, my love ❤️.”
The family posts have drawn criticism from royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, who questioned the balance between sharing private family moments publicly and concerns about privacy and security.
“If privacy is genuinely the priority, the most effective strategy is simple… stop broadcasting your family life to millions of strangers,” Schofield told Page Six.
She argued that regularly sharing details about the children and the family’s daily life can attract additional public attention.
The reported WhatsApp leak, meanwhile, has brought fresh focus to the family’s security arrangements as Harry and Meghan adjust to life back in the UK.
