Singer-songwriter Don McLean did not hold back in his criticism of Prince Harry, stating that Harry "just doesn't get America."
In his memoir, "Spare," Harry issued numerous attacks, primarily aimed at the Royal Family. He also criticized his experience visiting Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis, describing it as dark and claustrophobic. Harry remarked, "I walked around saying, 'The King lived here? Really?' He added, 'The King's interior designer must have been on acid.'"
Don McLean was furious with Harry's comments and slammed them on social media. The American singer reignited the feud last year in June. Harry's comments sparked outrage among Elvis fans, with McLean writing on X (formerly Twitter), "Prince Harry should shut his mouth about Graceland and Elvis. He's a hot house orchid, a prince who never did a thing." In an interview with the Daily Mail, McLean further criticized Harry, saying, "He doesn't understand that Elvis is like the poor man's King. He came from nowhere, and his recordings were among the greatest ever made. His family was as poor as they could be, and Harry criticized Elvis's home as if comparing it to Buckingham Palace, which completely misses the point."
McLean continued, "Here's a fellow who's been brought up to be manly, but you don't criticize America when you're living here as our guest." Don's comments come after Harry officially changed his primary residence from the United Kingdom to America. This change was reflected in the paperwork related to Travelist, his sustainable travel initiative, which was backdated to June 20, 2023, when he and Meghan Markle were officially evicted from Frogmore Cottage.
In an earlier appearance on Good Morning America, Harry was questioned about his thoughts on American citizenship. When host Will Reeve asked if he felt American, Harry responded, "No, I don't know how I feel." When asked what was stopping him from obtaining American citizenship, Harry said, "I have no idea," adding that while it had crossed his mind, it was not a priority at the moment.
Harry's visa documents are currently at the center of a court battle. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, is taking legal action against the Department of Homeland Security to force officials to release Harry's visa documents. The organization wants to determine if Harry admitted to using illegal drugs before gaining a U.S. visa. In his memoir, Harry admitted to using cocaine, magic mushrooms, and cannabis. U.S. immigration law has harsh penalties for lying to immigration officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.
However, commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that Harry's status as a member of the Royal Family would likely prevent him from being deported. Fitzwilliams mentioned the possibility of the documents being released and made public, but noted that the American ambassador has made it clear there will be no such move, stating, "In reality, there was never going to be. You couldn't deport a royal; it would be silly and turn into a circus. People will speculate about it, and that's why Harry was so unwise to discuss drugs in the way that he did."
With the publicity surrounding "Spare," London-based U.S. immigration lawyer Melissa Chavin suggested that Harry might have received an A1 Head of State visa. Chavin described this specific type of visa as extremely special, noting that A1 Head of State visa holders are free to come to the U.S. without working as a member of the Royal Family or holding the position of head of state. If Harry did receive this special visa, he would have only been vetted for espionage, sabotage, terrorist activities, and opposition to the U.S. government. His past drug use admissions in "Spare" would not affect his visa.
