US visa records belonging to Prince Harry have been unsealed after a freedom of information request by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank. However, most details remain redacted due to concerns about potential harm and harassment towards the prince.
The court order came after a 2024 ruling that refused to disclose Prince Harry’s immigration records. The Heritage Foundation contested this decision, arguing there was public interest in releasing the information.
Documents released on Tuesday include supporting declarations and court transcripts from the case. These reveal that the US government previously warned a court about potential harm if the visa records were made public. A chief freedom of information officer stated that releasing the material could expose the individual to “harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media”.
The documents do not contain Prince Harry’s actual visa application form, but rather supporting declarations and other related materials.
Prince Harry first tried cocaine at 17, according to his memoir Spare. He also wrote about using marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his book. The prince moved to the US with his wife Meghan in 2020 after stepping down as a working royal.
The court’s decision allows for limited information to be released. The Heritage Foundation has stated that this is “not the end of the road” and expects further action, potentially including another lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gevr32g98o