In a recent legal development, a US court has issued a mandate for the disclosure of Prince Harry’s immigration documents by the close of business on Tuesday. District Judge Carl Nichols has instructed the release of these records in response to a freedom of information request filed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington DC.
The foundation has raised concerns regarding the prince’s alleged failure to disclose his history of drug use, which they argue should have rendered him ineligible for a US visa. These claims stem from revelations made by the Duke of Sussex in his memoir, “Spare,” where he openly discussed experimenting with substances such as cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms.
Within the pages of his book, published in January 2023, Prince Harry candidly admitted to trying cocaine for the first time at the age of 17. Describing the experience as lacking joy but offering a sense of altered reality, he noted, “It wasn’t much fun, and it didn’t make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the main goal.” Furthermore, he detailed his use of marijuana, distinguishing its effects from those of cocaine, acknowledging that the latter held no appeal for him while the former provided genuine relief.
The application process for US visas includes inquiries regarding an applicant’s past and present drug use. Failure to disclose such information can result in the rejection of non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications, potentially leading to a prohibition from entering the country. The Heritage Foundation has asserted that Prince Harry deceived US immigration officials about his drug history, a serious accusation that could carry significant consequences.
Court documents indicate that the Department of Homeland Security has been given a deadline to comply with the court order and release Prince Harry’s immigration records by the specified date. As this legal saga unfolds, inquiries have been made to both the White House and the duke’s office for their respective responses on the matter.
This latest ruling follows a prior decision in 2024 by the same judge, where it was determined that there was insufficient public interest to warrant the disclosure of Prince Harry’s immigration details. However, the Heritage Foundation challenged this ruling, advocating for a reversal of the judgment in pursuit of transparency and accountability.
Having relocated to the US alongside his wife, Meghan, in 2020 subsequent to stepping down as a senior member of the British royal family, questions have arisen regarding the specifics of Prince Harry’s entry visa. Whereas Meghan is a US citizen, the nature of Prince Harry’s visa status remains undisclosed.
Former President Donald Trump previously quashed speculations of deporting Prince Harry in February, expressing a hands-off approach and alluding to the prince’s personal challenges, particularly in relation to his wife. Meghan, a vocal critic of Trump in the past, has denounced him as a “misogynist.”
As the legal wrangling over Prince Harry’s immigration records ensues, the spotlight remains fixed on the intricate intersection of personal disclosures, visa requirements, and
