 "Could Prince Harry be deported from the US over past drug use?")
Prince Harry’s American dream could be under threat once again.
The Duke of Sussex, who left behind royal life and settled in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, is now facing questions over his US residency status. At the heart of the issue is his own admission of past drug use in his memoir Spare, where he openly spoke about experimenting with cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms.
Last week, a US court ordered the release of documents related to his visa application, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The records, set to be made public by Tuesday, March 18, could reveal whether Harry disclosed his drug history when applying for entry into the country.
As the legal battle unfolds, here’s what this could mean for Prince Harry’s future in the US.
Prince Harry’s visa case
A conservative US think tank has raised concerns that Prince Harry may have misrepresented his past drug use on his visa application—an admission that could have disqualified him from obtaining entry into the United States.
The Heritage Foundation launched a legal battle against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to access the Duke of Sussex’s immigration records was denied. The group argued that the case was of “immense public interest.”
The lawsuit mentioned Harry admitting to having recreationally used marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir, Spare, released in 2023 – about three years after he moved to the US with his wife Meghan Markle.
In the book, he wrote, “Cocaine didn’t do anything for me,” while adding, “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.” Reflecting on his drug use, he admitted, “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. Feel. Different.”
For those unfamiliar, US visa applications specifically ask about past and present drug use, and acknowledging such history can often lead to disqualification.
The think tank pushed for the DHS to release Harry’s records to determine whether he had been truthful in his application or had received special treatment under the Biden administration.
However, in September last year, Judge Nichols dismissed the case, ruling that Prince Harry’s immigration records would remain private. “The public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke’s immigration records. Like any foreign national, the duke has a legitimate privacy interest in his immigration status,” the judge stated.
The case reopens
Despite the previous ruling, the Heritage Foundation persisted in its legal battle, pushing for a review of the decision.
The case was reopened after Judge Nichols ruled that “to the maximum extent possible, I’m required to make public everything that can be made public.”
He also acknowledged that procedural lapses, highlighted by the think tank’s lawyers, had disrupted the case, including the September ruling that initially kept Harry’s records private. “We can talk about how one goes about unringing that bell. At a minimum, we’d have to go through that process,” the judge stated.
Also read: Explained | Lost American dreams: How Harry and Meghan go from riches to rags
As per court documents, Nichols has now ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release redacted versions of Prince Harry’s visa documents by Tuesday, March 18.
While the DHS had previously refused to disclose the records, government lawyers later agreed in February to provide limited access. “Specifically, defendant would propose redacting all information in these items that would reveal information that the court has determined defendant can withhold,” DHS attorney John Bardo stated in a court filing.
Trump weighs in
While US President Donald Trump has the authority to intervene and request the release of Prince Harry’s visa documents, he previously stated that he had no intention of deporting the duke.
Speaking to The New York Post in February, Trump said, “I’ll leave him alone.” He also took a swipe at Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, adding, “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been openly critical of Trump in the past, calling him “divisive” and a “misogynist.”
However, during a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March 2024, Trump, then out of office, said Prince Harry should not receive any special treatment if it was found that he had lied on his visa application.
“No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, they’ll have to take appropriate action,” he had said.
Harry moved to the US in 2020, following a brief stay in Canada, after stepping back from royal duties with Meghan. The couple has since settled in California.
With input from agencies
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