Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a "get-to-know-you social call" with Gov. Gavin Newsom last October, according to multiple reports.
The so-called "introductory meeting" took place just weeks before the presidential election and a few months after the couple had settled into their new home in Montecito, California. The governor "is said to have wanted to welcome them to California," however, sources told PEOPLE the call was not political in nature, despite several reports to the contrary.
The phone call, which reportedly happened October 19, lasted about an hour.
It also happened shortly before Gov. Newsom found himself in hot water in early November for attending a colleague's birthday party at a swanky Wine Country restaurant, a dinner that violated his own COVID-19 guidelines.
"Some papers have fastened onto the meeting as further evidence of the couple's political interests," a story in PEOPLE said. "As members of the royal family, Harry and Meghan have to be careful about appearing to be involved in politics."
A spokesman for the governor told The Sun: "We do not comment on the content of meetings between the Governor and private parties or his staff." A spokesman for Harry and Meghan declined to comment to the paper.
Both Harry and Meghan were involved in some political conversations prior to the election, a departure from the typically politics-free lifestyle of the royals.
Harry spoke out about "rejecting hate speech and online negativity" before the election, while Megan encouraged people to register to vote. In the past, she has been public with her "distaste" for President Donald Trump.
The couple moved to California last March.
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