Prince Harry's heavily redacted immigration records, released Tuesday as part of an ongoing lawsuit, have triggered a new wave of speculation and criticism, with conspiracy theories circulating online about potential revelations the documents might conceal, including allegations regarding the Duke of Sussex's health and visa eligibility.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released six documents related to Prince Harry's visa application after a federal judge ordered redacted versions to be made public. The court filings stem from a lawsuit brought by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which has been seeking transparency over Harry's admission into the United States, particularly in light of his public admissions of past drug use in his memoir, Spare.
One redacted passage has fueled significant chatter. The government warned that disclosing Harry's exact immigration status "could subject him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others." This language, though standard, quickly drew attention on social media, with users speculating whether health-related disclosures-possibly sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)-might be among the redacted material.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Reading through Prince Harry's visa document drop and the parts that haven't been redacted give you an idea of how bad Harry is and what they are hiding. Like these pages for example.. does Harry have a STD?!" Others criticized the level of secrecy, suggesting it amounted to special treatment.
Critics also questioned why the documents-expected to clarify whether Harry had disclosed past drug use, which can affect visa eligibility-were so thoroughly obscured. "Anyone that needs documents to be that heavily redacted is NOT a person of good moral character," another user posted.
The lawsuit focuses primarily on whether the Duke accurately reported his drug use on immigration forms. U.S. visa applicants are required to disclose prior use of controlled substances, and failure to do so could, in theory, disqualify a person from entering the country. Prince Harry previously admitted to taking cannabis, cocaine, and magic mushrooms in his memoir.
Samuel Dewey, attorney for The Heritage Foundation, argued the case's core issue is compliance by the Department of Homeland Security, not Harry's personal affairs. "He's talked about, he's written about it extensively. He has waived any privacy interest he has in his drug use," Dewey told CNN.
The documents unsealed Tuesday shed little light on the matter. The redactions cover details of Harry's visa application, including any possible request for a waiver due to drug use or whether he benefited from a diplomatic visa. "It was not possible to release any record or any portion of the records as it would allow someone with any familiarity with immigration law to determine [redacted] for the Duke in the United States," one filing read.
DHS maintained that Prince Harry did not receive preferential treatment. Jarrod Panter, DHS's chief FOIA officer, stated, "The records... show the regulatory process involved in reviewing and granting immigration benefits which was done in compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act and applicable rules and regulation."
Critics remain unconvinced, with some alleging favoritism due to Harry's royal lineage. "He will be treated with privilege by the world as he is the son of (King Charles III) & Princess Diana. He's never been accountable for his actions & he probably never will be," one user commented online.
Adding to the political dimension, former President Donald Trump recently commented on the controversy, telling the New York Post he had ruled out deporting Harry. "I don't want to do that," Trump said. "I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible."
The Heritage Foundation contends the case reflects broader concerns over DHS's immigration enforcement. "This is a case that concerns Prince Harry, but what it's focused on is DHS's conduct," Dewey emphasized.
While the DHS has denied improper handling of Harry's visa, the lack of disclosure has only intensified scrutiny. Immigration attorney Charles Kuck previously noted that immigration forms typically require disclosure of drug use, but suggested that answering "yes" can be legally complex due to differing interpretations of drug law violations.
