Recently, heavily redacted court documents concerning Prince Harry’s US visa status have been made public in the United States. However, the specifics of his visa status remain confidential due to concerns about potential harassment. A ruling by Judge Carl Nichols permitted the release of these documents following a freedom of information (FoI) request initiated by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in the US.
The Heritage Foundation contended that the Duke of Sussex may have concealed previous illegal drug use, which he discussed in his memoir, Spare. This revelation raises questions about whether such admissions could have disqualified him from obtaining a US visa. Applicants for US visas are required to disclose both current and past drug use, and any admissions can lead to visa denials. Nevertheless, immigration officers possess the discretion to make final decisions based on various factors.
While the prince’s complete visa form remains undisclosed, the redacted documents were released on Tuesday. The court found insufficient public interest to justify the full disclosure of Harry's immigration records. The documents stated, “To release his exact status could subject him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others.” It further explained that revealing his exact status could potentially lead to harassment, emphasizing the significant privacy interests involved.
The Heritage Foundation argued for the release of the records to determine whether the Duke received preferential treatment during his visa application process. However, the court dismissed this claim, stating that the plaintiffs did not provide evidence of any government misconduct related to the case. The documents concluded, “Plaintiffs have not established public interest, as defined by the FOIA, in disclosure of the records.”
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry openly discussed his experiences with drug use, revealing that he first tried cocaine at the age of 17. He recounted, “At someone’s house, during a shooting weekend, I was offered a line, and I’d done a few more since. It wasn’t much fun, and it didn’t make me particularly happy.” He noted that while cocaine did not provide him the happiness he sought, it did allow him to feel different, a reflection of his struggles as a deeply unhappy teenager.
Harry’s narrative continued with his experiences with marijuana, which he described as having a positive impact on him. He recounted smoking with friends at Eton, detailing the light-hearted moments they shared while watching episodes of Family Guy. In another striking passage, he described a surreal experience involving magic mushrooms at a party hosted by Courteney Cox. He humorously recounted hallucinating that a bathroom pedal bin was a head, stating, “I stepped on the pedal and the head opened its mouth. A huge open grin. I laughed.”
The release of these heavily redacted documents raises significant questions regarding Prince Harry’s US visa status and the implications of his past drug use on immigration processes. While the documents provide limited information, they highlight the ongoing interest and scrutiny surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s personal history and public life.
