A Washington D.C. judge ordered the U.S. government to release redacted portions of Prince Harry’s visa application documents by March 18, 2025, potentially exposing whether the Duke of Sussex received special treatment or misrepresented information about his past drug use when entering the United States.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which had been seeking access to Prince Harry’s immigration records through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The foundation argued that Harry’s admissions of drug use in his 2023 memoir “Spare” should have disqualified him from obtaining a U.S. visa, and they wanted to determine if he either lied on his application or received special dispensation from the Biden administration.

Court documents related to Prince Harry’s visa application that have already been released were heavily redacted, with officials citing privacy concerns and potential harassment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has argued that releasing Harry’s exact visa status could expose him to “harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media,” according to unsealed court filings.

The newly ordered disclosure follows a ruling by a judge appointed by President Donald Trump. The judge determined that some portions of Harry’s application must be placed on the court docket, though certain information will remain redacted.

Prince Harry’s U.S. immigration records were unsealed on March 18, 2025, following the court order by Judge Carl Nichols. The documents were released to the Heritage Foundation in response to their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. However, the records were heavily redacted to protect Prince Harry’s privacy, and his actual visa application was not included.

Immigration experts note that U.S. visa applications explicitly ask about current and historical drug use, and admitting to past drug use can potentially lead to applications being rejected, though immigration officers have some discretion in making final determinations. More serious than the drug use itself would be any misrepresentation on official forms, which could result in serious immigration consequences.

Prince Harry admitted in “Spare” that he had used cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. He specifically wrote about getting high on mushrooms at “Friends” star Courteney Cox’s house and using cocaine at age 17 “to feel different.” These admissions form the basis of the Heritage Foundation’s argument that his visa application deserves public scrutiny.

One theory that could explain the situation is that Harry may hold an A-1 visa, typically reserved for diplomats and royals, which might make drug use considerations irrelevant to his immigration status. However, this has not been confirmed, and Harry’s exact visa status remains unknown to the public.

Trump has previously stated he would not deport Harry if re-elected, saying the prince “has got enough problems with his wife.” However, immigration attorneys have warned that Harry could still face challenges to his residential status under the Trump administration.

The State Department’s decisions are subject to political pressures and are not always predictable.  This means Harry’s visa could be revoked, and he might be barred from re-entering the US even with a valid visa, especially given his past drug use, which can make him ineligible for entry.  Several factors, including political considerations, could prevent Harry from returning to the United States.

The relationship between the Sussexes and the Trump family has been strained since 2016, when Meghan, then an actress not yet linked to Harry, described Trump as “misogynistic” and “divisive” on a Comedy Central show. Trump later referred to her comments as “nasty.”

In a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, Trump said of Harry: “Harry is whipped like no person I think I’ve ever seen.” He also predicted the couple would divorce, adding, “It’ll end, and it’ll end bad… I want to know what’s going to happen when Harry decides he’s had enough of being bossed around… Or maybe when she decides that she likes some other guy better. I want to know what’s going to happen when it ends, OK?”

Eric Trump has also weighed in, calling the Duke and Duchess “spoiled apples” and stating, “You can happily have those two. We might not want them anymore; it feels like they’re on an island of their own.” 

Critics have pointed out that there is precedent for denying entry to the U.S. based on drug admissions. British TV chef Nigella Lawson was denied entry to the United States in 2013 after admitting to drug use.

Harry’s team has consistently maintained that he was “truthful” in his application process. Documents obtained through previous FOIA requests show “no drug use, special treatment apparent in Prince Harry’s visa request,” though it’s important to note that much of the information in these documents was blacked out, and the visa application itself was not included.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito, California in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as working members of the British royal family. The couple has established their life in the United States, and though Harry has reportedly considered obtaining American citizenship, it is “not a high priority for him at the moment.”