Major update in Prince Harry’s US visa drugs row

Prince Harry’s US visa status is again under scrutiny over his admission that he used cocaine and marijuana, with a huge development in the immigration saga.

Prince Harry’s US visa status is again under scrutiny, with conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation reopening its case to have the exiled royal’s private immigration papers made public.

The first court hearing since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration is set to take place and the foundation will argue that the US Government must release records about Prince Harry’s application for his US visa.

Judge Carl J Nichols has ordered Heritage lawyers and Prince Harry to meet at a federal court in Washington DC on February 5, Newsweek reported.

Prince Harry’s US visa status is again under fire. Picture: AFP

The foundation has accused Prince Harry of not disclosing his past drug use on the application, which as a rule US visa applicants must do.

The royal previously admitted in his explosive memoir Spare that he recreationally used marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms as a teenager and young man in a bid to deal with his traumatic childhood.

Describing his experiences with cocaine as a “deeply unhappy 17-year-old boy”, Prince Harry 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.”

Prince Harry as a teenager with older brother Prince William. Picture: Getty Images

The Heritage Foundation has accused the royal of either having lied about his drug use in his papers in order to be granted a US visa or having been given special treatment by former president Joe Biden.

The royal with wife Meghan Markle during their Colombian tour. Picture: Getty Images

Eric Trump has previously slammed the Sussexes. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump has previously openly stated his contempt for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, accusing the second son of King Charles of betraying the royal family.

“I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable,” he told The Express before his election win.

“He would be on his own if it was down to me.”

During the election campaign, Mr Trump ’s second son, Eric Trump, said “no one cares” about Prince Harry or his “pretty unpopular” wife Meghan.

“Truthfully, I don’t give a damn about Prince Harry, and I don’t think this country does either,” he told the Mail Online. My father loved the Queen, and I think the monarchy is an incredibly beautiful thing.”

He added: “I don’t give a damn if he did drugs. It means nothing. I can tell you that our father and our entire family have tremendous respect for the monarchy.”

Originally published as Major update in Prince Harry’s US visa drugs row