A police watchdog is to investigate the Metropolitan Police over how the force handled a letter connected to Meghan.
The investigation will centre on the Met's handling of the letter. The watchdog will examine the actions of the force, which polices London.
The investigation
The decision means the Met will come under outside scrutiny for the way it dealt with the correspondence. The inquiry is aimed at the force's conduct and not at the contents of the letter itself.
The watchdog's involvement puts the handling of a single piece of correspondence under formal review. Police forces in the UK are subject to independent oversight, and this case now falls within it.
Who is affected
The Metropolitan Police is directly affected, as the force whose actions are being examined. Officers and staff who dealt with the letter may be asked about the way it was handled.
Meghan is also at the centre of the matter, because the letter relates to her. Her name has been attached to the inquiry through that link.
The Met has not been reported to have changed any of its procedures as a result of the announcement. An investigation is a process of examination, and it does not amount to a finding against the force.
Next steps
The watchdog will now carry out its investigation into the Metropolitan Police. The inquiry is expected to look at the decisions taken by the force and the way the letter was dealt with from the point it came to the Met's attention. No date has been set for when it might conclude.
Any conclusions will be a matter for the watchdog once its work is complete. Until then, the force remains under investigation over its handling of the Meghan letter.
Anyone with information relevant to the inquiry can contact the police watchdog directly through its published channels.
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