Documents related to the visa application of the Duke of Sussex in the United States have been unveiled in court. The details in the documents are mostly redacted, leaving the public unaware of what information Prince Harry provided in his immigration form. Following a freedom of information request by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank in Washington DC, a US court had ordered the release of these documents, suspecting that Prince Harry may have omitted his history of drug use, which could invalidate his US visa.
The allegations against Prince Harry are centered around revelations in his memoir called Spare, where he admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms in the past. The application forms for US visas explicitly inquire about current and past drug use, and failing to disclose such information can result in rejection of visa applications. Despite the anticipation, the released documents on Tuesday offered little insight as most information was withheld, including the actual visa form submitted by the prince.
Instead of revealing the Duke’s visa application, the documents exposed supporting declarations and court transcripts produced during the Heritage Foundation’s case. The US government had previously expressed concerns regarding releasing the duke’s visa records, fearing that it could make him a target for harassment and public scrutiny. A chief freedom of information officer at the US Department for Homeland Security argued that divulging such sensitive information could subject the prince to potential harm, including harassment or unwanted media attention.
Prince Harry’s memoir, where he described his experiences with drugs, stirred controversy upon its release in January 2023. He candidly admitted his experimentation with cocaine and marijuana, reflecting on how these substances impacted his life. Despite a court ruling in 2024 that deemed there was not enough public interest in disclosing his immigration records, the Heritage Foundation persisted in their pursuit, leading to the recent revelation of certain court documents. Prince Harry, who relocated to the US with his wife Meghan in 2020, has not publicly commented on the unfolding situation
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