Request for Prince Harry US immigration papers to prove drug use rejected

The LA-based royal’s admission that he had used drugs in the past put his US visa into jeopardy. See latest.

Prince Harry has scored a major victory over whether he admitted drug use on immigration papers before entering the US.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially rejected a think tank’s request to release Prince Harry’s immigration documents which would prove whether the LA-based royal declared his drug use.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, revealed he had taken psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana in his bombshell memoir, Spare, in January.

Lawyers for the conservative, Washington-based Heritage Foundation have sought the release of the records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Prince Harry was a day late for his London High Court case against Mirror Newspaper Group because he stayed in LA to celebrate Lilibet’s birthday. Picture: Carl Court

“This is obviously a case about Prince Harry,” Samuel Dewey, a lawyer for the Heritage Foundation, said at an earlier court hearing.

“But it’s truly about DHS and its compliance to the law.”

But the DHS on Tuesday local time notified the think thank by email that it had rejected the request on the grounds of privacy, according to the New York Post.

“To the extent records exist, this office does not find a public interest in disclosure sufficient to override the subject’s privacy interests,” DHS senior director Jimmy Wolfrey wrote in the letter obtained by the publication.

That prompted this reaction from the think tank’s director, Nile Gardiner: “The Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to stonewall the Heritage Foundation’s Freedom of Information request are unacceptable, and we will be contesting their position,” Mr Gardiner said.

“We expected to have to fight every step of this case in federal court and will continue to press for transparency and accountability for the American people.”

HARRY REJECTS KING’S BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR LILIBET

King Charles reportedly planned to give his granddaughter Lilibet an expensive custom-made cubby house for her second birthday earlier this month but was told by his youngest son, Prince Harry to buy a cheaper gift.

It is understood the Duke of Sussex turned down his father’s offer and insisted on a “less extravagant” present for the seventh in line to the throne.

“His aides were looking at custom-made cubby houses, similar to what Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret had when they were girls,” a source said.

“He wanted to give Lili something she will use and be hers, something she would remember forever – it was going to be a big surprise.”

King Charles III talks to guests during a reception to celebrate the Windrush Generation and mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, at Buckingham Palace, in London on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

It‘s unclear whether the King heeded Prince Harry’s wishes or insisted with the outdoor playpen for the youngster, who is seventh in line to the throne.

Princess Lilibet of Sussex turned two on June 4 at Harry and Meghan’s multimillion dollar Montecito home in the US.

Prince Harry stayed behind in Los Angeles to celebrate with his daughter, delaying his High Court trial against Mirror Group Newspapers in London.

Despite the King‘s private plans for his granddaughter’s birthday celebrations, he and other senior royals – chose not to share a public birthday tribute on Twitter, like they did the year previously.

Queen Camilla attends a "Bee Garden Party" to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the charity Bees for Development (BFD), in London, on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

“It’s because they don’t mark the birthdays of non-working members and the gap has widened between the Sussex’s and Buckingham Palace since Harry released his book Spare washing the family’s dirty laundry in public,“ said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

“They, of course, wish Lilibet a very happy birthday, but nothing will be put out on any channels,” he added.

It marks a different policy to that of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who honoured her great-granddaughter with a Twitter post for her first birthday last June.

Princess Lilibet of Sussex turned two last weekend.

“Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!” the Queen shared via her official social media account at the time.

“It’s because they don’t mark the birthdays of non-working members and the gap has widened between the Sussex’s and Buckingham Palace since Harry released his book Spare washing the family’s dirty laundry in public,“ said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

“They, of course, wish Lilibet a very happy birthday, but nothing will be put out on any channels,” he added.

The King proposed buying a cubby house for his granddaughter’s second birthday. Picture Harvey Norman.

When the Queen was six years old in 1932, she received a fully functional large Wendy house complete with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and a bathroom that came complete with hot and cold running water, electricity and a heated towel rail from the people of Wales.

For entertainment, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were treated to a bookshelf complete with the works of Beatrix Potter, a mini radio and a tea set to play tea parties with.

Although the house was a great success, it wasn‘t without its drama.

The house, whose door was damaged by fire in transit, still stands close by on the grounds of the Royal Lodge of Windsor.

Harry and Meghan have not been invited to the King Charles’ Trooping the Colour parade this weekend.

It marks the first time the Sussex’s have not been asked to attend the annual ceremony, which celebrates the reigning monarch’s birthday.

The last time Harry and Meghan took part in the event was in 2019.

Buckingham Palace announced that the King will join the military parade by riding on horseback for the occasion.

It will be the first time in decades that a reigning monarch has ridden in the parade since Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.

The couple did attend the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 but, as they were no longer senior royals, missed out on the Trooping of the Colour balcony appearance.