Prince Harry’s US visa records to be released after court ruling

A judge has ordered the release of immigration files after a legal challenge over the Duke of Sussex’s past drug use.

Prince Harry’s immigration files are to be made public. Picture: Getty Images for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.

The Duke of Sussex’s immigration files must be made public by Tuesday, a court has ruled.

Judge Nichols ordered the release of documents relating to the Duke of Sussex’s US visa application as part of an ongoing freedom of information (FOI) request brought by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank based in Washington DC.

Harry’s references to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his autobiography, Spare, prompted the organisation to ask why he was allowed to relocate to the US with his American wife.

Nichols ordered the US Department of Homeland Security to release the redacted versions of the documents no later than Tuesday, according to court filings dated March 15.

Prince Harry and Meghan. Picture: Instagram

It comes after a September 2024 ruling from the same judge which said that there wasn’t a strong enough public interest case in disclosing Harry’s immigration records. The Heritage Foundation then pushed for the judgement to be changed.

Despite previously refusing the FOI request, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security in February agreed to release redacted versions of the forms.

John Bardo, the department lawyer, wrote in a court filing: “Specifically, defendant would propose redacting all information in these items that would reveal information that the court has determined defendant can withhold.”

The Heritage Foundation alleged the duke may have concealed past illegal drug use that should have disqualified him from obtaining a US visa. It previously argued answers on Harry’s prior drug use in his visa application should have been disclosed as they could raise questions over the US government’s integrity.

Prince Harry with his daughter Lilibet. Picture: Instagram

In Spare, which was published in January 2023, the duke said that cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”

Harry said that he had first tried cocaine aged 17 “at someone’s country house”. He added: “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 almost anything that would alter the status quo.”

He also includes references to smoking marijuana, writing: “African weed was much harsher than Eton weed.”

In February, President Trump ruled out deporting Harry from the US, telling the New York Post: “I’ll leave him alone.” He added: “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”

Meghan has previously been a vocal critic of Trump and called him “divisive” and a “misogynist”.

Trump said in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year that Harry should not receive preferential treatment. Asked if the duke should have “special privileges” if he was found to have lied on his application, Trump said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”