In a recent interview, Prince Harry revealed his consideration of becoming a US citizen. However, an exclusive Newsweek poll indicates that nearly half of Americans believe this would require him to relinquish his royal titles. The normal path to American citizenship involves renouncing allegiance to any foreign prince and surrendering royal titles. While options exist for Harry, who wishes to retain his position as the Duke of Sussex, such as the honorary US title bestowed upon Winston Churchill by Congress, this would not grant him voting or running for elected office rights.
Another perspective, put forward by Alfons Provinciano from the US law firm Provinciano and Associates, suggests that Harry could bring a case to the Supreme Court to challenge the existing law. To gauge public opinion, Newsweek commissioned Redfield and Wilton to conduct a poll with a representative sample of 1,500 American adults. The results showed that 44% believed Harry should be required to relinquish his titles, 23% believed the law should be changed to allow him to keep them, and 32% were unsure.
The issue of giving up titles to attain US citizenship is rooted in a section of the US code that mandates renouncing all foreign titles. However, Provinciano argues that this may infringe upon the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, as it treats individuals differently based on their citizenship status. While Meghan Markle obtained the title Duchess of Sussex through marriage and remains a US citizen, Prince Harry, who was born into royalty, would need to renounce his birthright to achieve the same status.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been involved in several lawsuits since 2019, with only one taking place in the United States. Pursuing legal action in the Supreme Court would open new possibilities for them. However, the situation may become more pressing if Donald Trump becomes the next president, as he has indicated that he would not provide protection for Harry. The conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, is seeking Harry's visa records through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Biden administration. They aim to investigate whether Harry misrepresented his past drug use, as described in his book, which raised concerns about potential grounds for visa denial.
Trump expressed his personal stance, stating, "I would not protect him. He betrayed the Queen. This is unforgivable. He would be alone if it were up to me." As the debate about Prince Harry's potential loss of titles and his pursuit of US citizenship intensifies, the future of his royal status remains uncertain.
