Prince Harry’s US visa files are delayed until after King Charles’s state visit to America
Prince Harry’s controversial US visa files have been postponed until after King Charles’ official visit to America.
US officials quietly postponed plans to release his visa documents until after his father’s high-risk trip to Washington.
Campaigners have been asking for the files to be viewed for years to see whether Harry lied about whether he used drugs on his US visa application.
The Duke of Sussex admitted in his memoir that he had previously used cocaine and cannabis since moving to America.
US think tank Heritage Foundation and researcher Mike Howell filed a freedom of information lawsuit and sued the US State Department to force it to comply with the request.
Hundreds of official documents related to the case were identified.
In a new court filing made public this week in Washington, D.C., authorities admitted they missed a March goal of turning over the documents.
They said the next update on the case has been delayed until at least June 12, long after the royal trip is safely over. There is no mention of a state visit in the court filing, but the timing of the delay will have the effect of preventing any embarrassment from Harry’s father.
Trump administration says Prince Harry did not receive special treatment when he immigrated to the US
Image: King III. Charles with US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle on September 18, 2025
US officials have identified hundreds of documents potentially related to Prince Harry’s US visa application
King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to be hosted at a glittering state banquet hosted by President Trump at the White House in late April. The state visit will be held on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. Charles will be presented as a symbol of the special relationship during this trip, which is already considered a diplomatic minefield.
President Trump recently lashed out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to support Operation Epic Fury, creating tension in the political environment ahead of the royal visit. Any disagreement over his younger son’s right to live at his California mansion could potentially risk overshadowing the trip for both governments.
The legal battle centers on admissions Harry made at Spare and subsequent interviews detailing his past use of cocaine, marijuana and magic mushrooms.
Under standard US immigration rules, admitting to such drug use would normally raise red flags. Visa applicants are asked about any past drug use, and admissions could potentially bar ordinary applicants from entering the country or lead to their deportation.
Lawyers representing the Heritage Foundation argue that there is a clear public interest in seeing how the Joe Biden and now Donald Trump administrations handle the case.
US officials insist the delays are purely bureaucratic, arguing that the documents are so large that multiple government agencies must be consulted before releasing any document.
The court file dated April 13 states: ‘The Ministry had previously envisaged in this case to start production sometime in March and to start existing rolling production thereafter. However, the Ministry is still processing the potential first tranche of registrations and will produce them as soon as possible.’
The ‘situation report’ reveals that the Foreign Office has identified 307 separate records covering 2,487 pages that may relate to the Duke.
He is officially referred to in the civil case as Henry Charles Albert David, also known as the Duke of Sussex.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs, which handles visa processing, initially flagged 517 potentially relevant documents, officials said. The Office of the Secretary identified 217 additional records, while the Office of Legal Counsel identified 271 potentially ‘sensitive’ documents. Two additional records were found on the Deputy Secretary of State’s desk.
The legal battle has lasted nearly three years since the Heritage Foundation first went to court. Harry quit royal duties in 2020 and has maintained a frosty relationship with his father ever since.
The Trump administration has previously said that claims that Prince Harry received special treatment when he immigrated to the United States are unfounded. It was stated that Harry’s application complies with ‘all applicable rules and regulations’.
Prince Harry’s spokesperson has been approached for comment.
