RICHARD KAY: Prince Harry May Feel Relieved Over His Visa Records, But His Troubles Could Be Far From Over
The latest reports from Montecito, the exclusive Californian enclave where Prince Harry resides in luxury, suggest that the Duke of Sussex is breathing a sigh of relief.
Attempts to uncover the details of his U.S. visa application seem to have hit a wall. The newly released but heavily redacted court documents indicate that his immigration records will remain private, with concerns raised over potential harassment.
Given this outcome, it’s no surprise that Harry was seen looking cheerful in the sunshine, with speculation that a metaphorical burden has been lifted from King Charles' younger son. He had faced scrutiny over whether he had concealed past drug use when applying for his U.S. visa.
At first glance, it seems like the argument for privacy has prevailed. Conspiracy theorists may be disappointed, as the released material provides little evidence of any wrongdoing. However, the six documents made public contain vast sections of censored text. Even the mention of rock star Sting appears out of context due to the heavy redactions.
One fragment that did make it through referred to "whether Prince Harry or Sting or anyone else you can think of who is prominent has a particular visa status." Yet, with so much information blacked out, the statement remains ambiguous.
That being said, Harry would be wise to hold off on celebrating just yet.
Over the past two years, The Heritage Foundation, a highly influential American think tank, has been relentless in its pursuit of answers. Using Freedom of Information laws, they have been questioning how Prince Harry was allowed entry into the U.S. after admitting to past drug use, including cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic substances.
While the newly released documents don’t provide clarity on whether he received any special treatment, the very fact that campaigners have managed to gain access to any records at all suggests that the legal process is far from over.
For Harry, this poses a significant risk. The Heritage Foundation isn’t backing down. This respected organization, with its own legal experts and strong political connections—particularly within Donald Trump’s circle—believes it will ultimately get the answers it seeks.
The implications for Harry are serious. If it's determined that he was dishonest about his drug history on his visa application, he could face legal repercussions or, in a worst-case scenario, deportation.
This wouldn’t just be a personal catastrophe for Harry, who has previously hinted at applying for U.S. citizenship. It could also spark a crisis for the Royal Family. U.S. immigration law requires applicants to disclose whether they have ever been drug abusers or addicts, answering either "yes" or "no."
The controversy surrounding Harry’s visa status stems from his own revelations in *Spare*, his explosive memoir. He admitted to first trying cocaine at the age of 17.
His own words could ultimately determine whether he is allowed to remain in the U.S. "At someone’s country house, during a shooting weekend, I was offered a line [of cocaine], and I’d done a few more since," he wrote.
"It wasn’t much fun and it didn’t make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the main goal. Feel. Different. I was a deeply unhappy 17-year-old boy willing to try anything that would alter the status quo."
Marijuana, on the other hand, had a different effect. "That actually really did help me," he admitted, recalling how he smoked it in a tiny bathroom at Eton, giggling over the thrill of the experience.
In another section, he described taking psychedelic mushrooms at a party at *Friends* actress Courteney Cox’s home in Los Angeles.
After indulging in what he called a "huge box of black diamond mushroom chocolates," he hallucinated in the bathroom. "I stepped on the pedal bin and the head opened its mouth," he recalled. "A huge open grin. I laughed."
For The Heritage Foundation, it’s not just Harry’s drug use that’s under scrutiny—it’s the way he described it. His casual and almost celebratory tone in recounting these experiences is what they argue makes this a bigger issue.
They believe that, as a high-profile public figure who frequently weighs in on political matters, Harry’s open admissions of drug use in a bestselling book could set a dangerous precedent. To them, it represents an abuse of privilege.
While Prince Harry may feel relieved for now, this battle is far from over. If The Heritage Foundation continues to push, his American dream could turn into a nightmare.
At the heart of The Heritage Foundation’s case is a fundamental question: Did Prince Harry disclose his past drug use on his U.S. visa application? Advocates argue that, in the interest of transparency, the public deserves to know how he answered.
If Harry ticked ‘yes’ to the drug-related question, he would have required a waiver to obtain his visa. If such a waiver was granted, campaigners want to uncover who approved it and the justification behind it. Their argument is simple—was he given preferential treatment? To them, seeking this information isn’t just reasonable but entirely justified.
The think tank’s legal team also suggests that this situation raises serious concerns about the integrity of the U.S. government. Given that former President Donald Trump built his campaign on tightening border controls and enforcing strict immigration policies, the issue holds weight. Those pushing for the truth believe that, eventually, their efforts will pay off.
As the legal battle to access Harry’s visa records drags on, insiders in Washington speculate that Trump could personally intervene, using executive powers to declassify the files.
But would he take such a drastic step? Previously, Trump dismissed the idea of deporting Harry with the sharp remark that the Duke of Sussex already had ‘enough problems with his wife.’
However, there are several reasons why he might reconsider. Trump has reportedly been furious with the Biden administration after it publicly released immigration records belonging to his late mother-in-law. The move is said to have deeply upset his wife, Melania Trump, especially since her mother passed away in January last year.
At the same time, it’s unlikely that President Biden has overlooked the fact that Harry and Meghan’s charitable organization, Archewell, donated nearly £200,000 to his daughter Ashley Biden’s women’s wellness center.
Any one of these factors could push a provoked Donald Trump into action—whether out of retaliation or simply to make a political statement.
As The Heritage Foundation’s Nile Gardiner put it following the recent release of documents by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under a federal judge’s order: ‘There is zero accountability and transparency in the heavily redacted documents, so much so that they offer no answers at all.’
Yet, rather than bringing closure to the issue, the unsealing of these records may signal the start—not the end—of Harry’s ongoing battle.
