Thousands of pages of documents related to Prince Harry's visa records are set to be released, according to reports. The Duke of Sussex has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington DC think tank, which filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after Harry's memoir Spare detailed past drug use.
Background of the Visa Dispute
The controversy began in 2023 when Harry's memoir Spare included admissions of using cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. The Heritage Foundation questioned whether the Duke received preferential treatment when entering the US in 2020, or if proper protocols were followed. The think tank filed a FOIA lawsuit to obtain his visa documents.
In March 2025, a court released heavily redacted filings that provided no new information about Harry's entry into the US. The Heritage Foundation then filed a new case against the DHS, demanding the release of additional documents.
Scope of the Document Release
According to Newsweek, the legal action led to a review of 307 documents totaling 2,487 pages. Officials have spent months processing these records and are expected to begin releasing them near the end of July. This tranche could offer new insights into how Prince Harry is discussed within the US government.
Previously, US District Judge Carl Nichols ruled in September 2024 that the public did not have a strong interest in disclosing Harry's immigration records. However, the Heritage Foundation sought to overturn that judgment. The organization's legal team stated: "The Biden administration has gone to great lengths to protect Prince Harry, and in doing so, has undermined the public's trust in the fair enforcement of our nation's immigration laws."
Government Stance and Legal Proceedings
In February 2025, lawyers for the DHS agreed to release redacted versions of the forms, despite previously refusing the FOIA request. John Bardo, a lawyer representing the DHS under the Biden administration, said in 2024 about Harry's claims in Spare: "The book isn't sworn testimony or proof. Saying something in a book doesn't necessarily make it true. The mere acknowledgement of these records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harry's privacy."
In his memoir, Harry wrote that cocaine "didn't do anything for me," adding: "Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me."
Political Reactions
Former President Donald Trump weighed in during a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March 2024. Asked if Harry should receive special privileges if found to have lied on his application, Trump responded: "No. We'll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they'll have to take appropriate action."
