A judge in Washington, D.C., has directed the U.S. government to release redacted parts of Prince Harry’s visa application by March 18, 2025. This decision may reveal if the Duke of Sussex received any special treatment or misrepresented his past drug use when applying to enter the United States.
The ruling follows a lawsuit from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which sought access to Prince Harry’s immigration records via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The foundation argued that Harry’s admissions of drug use in his 2023 memoir “Spare” could have disqualified him from obtaining a U.S. visa. They aim to determine if he either misrepresented facts on his application or received special approval from the Biden administration.
Documents already released regarding Prince Harry’s visa application were heavily redacted, citing privacy concerns and potential harassment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contended that disclosing Harry’s exact visa status could subject him to “harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media,” as described in unsealed court filings.
The disclosure order comes from a judge appointed by former President Donald Trump. The judge ruled that certain sections of Harry’s application must be made public, though parts will remain redacted for privacy.
The unsealed documents related to Prince Harry’s U.S. immigration records were released on March 18, 2025, following Judge Carl Nichols’s court order. The Heritage Foundation received the documents in response to their FOIA request, but much of the content remained redacted, and the actual visa application was not provided.
Immigration experts highlight that U.S. visa applications inquire about both current and past drug use, and admitting to past drug use can lead to application denials. More significant than drug use itself is any false representation on official forms, which could have serious immigration repercussions.
In his book “Spare,” Prince Harry admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. He specifically recounted using mushrooms at “Friends” star Courteney Cox’s house and cocaine at age 17 “to feel different.” These admissions are central to the Heritage Foundation’s argument for public scrutiny of his visa application.
One explanation for the situation is that Harry might have an A-1 visa, typically granted to diplomats and royals, which could render drug use considerations irrelevant to his immigration status. However, this has not been confirmed, and his visa status remains unclear.
Trump last year stated he would not deport Harry if re-elected, commenting that the prince “has got enough problems with his wife.” Nevertheless, immigration attorneys caution that Harry might still encounter challenges to his residency status under the Trump administration.
Political pressures can influence the State Department’s decisions and are not always predictable. Harry’s visa could be revoked, potentially barring him from re-entering the U.S., especially given his past drug use, which can make him ineligible for entry, subject to political considerations.
The relationship between the Sussexes and the Trump family has been strained since 2016, when Meghan, then an actress, described Trump as “misogynistic” and “divisive” on a Comedy Central show. Trump later called her comments “nasty.”
In a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, Trump remarked on Harry: “Harry is whipped like no person I think I’ve ever seen.” He also predicted the couple would divorce, saying, “It’ll end, and it’ll end bad… I want to know what’s going to happen when Harry decides he’s had enough of being bossed around… Or maybe when she decides that she likes some other guy better. I want to know what’s going to happen when it ends, OK?”
Eric Trump has also commented, calling the Duke and Duchess “spoiled apples” and stating, “You can happily have those two. We might not want them anymore; it feels like they’re on an island of their own.”
Critics have noted that there is precedent for denying U.S. entry based on drug admissions. British TV chef Nigella Lawson was denied entry to the United States in 2013 after admitting to drug use.
Harry’s team has consistently maintained that he was “truthful” in his application process. Documents obtained through previous FOIA requests show “no drug use, special treatment apparent in Prince Harry’s visa request,” though much of the information was redacted, and the visa application itself was not included.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to Montecito, California, in 2020 after stepping down from their roles as active members of the British royal family. They have established their lives in the United States, and although Harry has considered obtaining American citizenship, it is not a high priority for him at the moment.
