A U.S. court has ordered that documents related to the Duke of Sussex’s visa application be made public by Tuesday. This decision, issued by Judge Carl Nichols, follows a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Heritage Foundation, a well-known conservative think tank based in the United States.
The request was prompted by Prince Harry’s own revelations in his memoir Spare, in which he openly discusses his past drug use, including experiences with cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. These admissions have led the Heritage Foundation to question the basis on which Prince Harry was allowed entry into the United States in 2020. According to court records dated March 15, Judge Nichols instructed the Department of Homeland Security to release redacted copies of the relevant visa application documents by the specified deadline.
This ruling marks a significant change, as the same judge had previously determined in September 2024 that there was not enough public interest to justify releasing the Duke’s immigration records. Since then, the Heritage Foundation has pushed back against that conclusion, insisting on greater transparency.
In an unexpected development, despite initially opposing the FOI request, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security agreed in February to release partially redacted documents. Attorney John Bardau, representing the department, stated in court filings that any information deemed exempt from disclosure would be appropriately withheld. As a result, while certain details from the application will be shared with the public, others will remain confidential.
The Heritage Foundation has raised serious concerns that Prince Harry may have failed to disclose prior illegal drug use, which could have rendered him ineligible for a U.S. visa. They argue that the answers he provided in his visa application are critical and could raise broader questions about the fairness and consistency of the U.S. immigration process. The case has gained further attention following comments from a former U.S. president in February. In an interview with the New York Post, he said he would not support deporting Prince Harry, adding, “I’ll leave him alone.” He also made veiled references to the Duke’s personal struggles involving his marriage to Meghan Markle.
Meghan Markle herself has not hesitated to speak out against the former president. She previously described him as divisive and misogynistic and publicly supported his opponent, Hillary Clinton, during the 2016 election. At the time, she also hinted that she might consider leaving the country if he were elected.
In Spare, Prince Harry describes his drug use in detail, stating that while cocaine had little effect on him, marijuana had a positive impact. This level of openness has intensified scrutiny of his visa status and the potential consequences of his disclosures. In a March interview with GB News, the former president commented on the situation, saying that if it turned out Harry had been dishonest on his application regarding drug use, he should not receive special treatment. “We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs,” he remarked, adding that any discrepancies should be addressed appropriately.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the complex intersection of immigration law, celebrity influence, and public accountability in the United States. As the deadline for the document release draws near, there is growing anticipation over what the records might reveal about the Duke’s entry into the country and what it could mean for how public figures interact with government processes.
