22 April 2024 , 00:39
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Prince Harry has landed himself in a "tricky situation" says Royal commentator Jennie Bond - who suggests there can be "only three possible conclusions" to draw from the controversy surrounding his US visa application.
Harry's potential US visa case could result in an "embarrassing outcome" for the Prince who "does seem to have boxed himself into a tight corner", Jennie believes.
The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, initiated legal proceedings after alleging that the Duke either misrepresented his past drug use on his visa application or was favoured by the US government.
Applicants for a US visa are required to disclose any history of drug use. Harry admitted to using substances, including cocaine, in his memoir Spare, published in 2023, three years after he was granted his US residency visa.
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex moved to the US (2018 Getty Images)Jennie, who spent 14 years as the BBC's Royal correspondent, told OK! that Harry has found himself in a "tight corner", having either "lied or received preferential treatment" from the US authorities.
Jennie shared: "This is a sticky situation for Harry to find himself in. There seem to be only three possible conclusions: he lied in his visa application, he lied in his book, or he has been made a special case by the American authorities. All of these signal an embarrassing outcome for Harry. I suspect a way will be found to preserve his reputation and his visa, but he does seem to have boxed himself into a tight corner. Given the prevalence of drugs, I don't imagine for a moment that Harry's application is unusual, (assuming he denied drugs)."
Despite any potential shortcomings on his application, Jennie holds hope that the US authorities will let it slide due to Prince Harry finding "love and happiness" in his new life with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, in California. She added: "I hope they don't succeed in making an example of him just because of who he is. He has found love and happiness and freedom in the States. I hope he can continue to enjoy it."
Meanwhile, despite the Heritage Foundations lawsuit aimed at determining if Prince Harry was dishonest on his application, the Department of Homeland Security is standing firm in not revealing these documents due to privacy issues. The campaigners remain unfazed, continually pressing their demands even as US Ambassador Jane Hartley reaffirms that the Duke of Sussex will not face deportation under President Joe Biden's administration. Her comments came after ex-president Donald Trump stated his inclination to deport Harry, just like any other individual, if found guilty of lying on their visa application.
Prince Harry's representatives were approached by OK! for comments