Prince Harry facing prospect of ‘embarrassing climbdown' as visa row reaches crucial stage

April 14, 2024
According to a royal analyst, Prince Harry might have to make a "embarrassing climbdown" if it becomes out that he lied on his US visa application. The US-based Heritage Foundation filed a freedom of information request requesting the release of the Duke of Sussex's visa application, putting his position under close scrutiny. The foundation has argued that the records would reveal if Harry reported his drug usage, which is a condition that, should it not be satisfied, may impair his right to residency. According to Charlotte Griffiths, a royal pundit, Harry may find himself in a "very embarrassing" scenario if it turns out that he mislead US authorities while submitting his application. The royal's lawyer John Bardo has argued claims made in Spare should not be considered to be an admission of drug use. Speaking to GB News, Griffiths said: "The most likely thing that will happen is Harry's going to be feeling very anxious somewhere in Montecito right now, and for the next few days. "It's going to be really embarrassing because they've already hinted that his defence might be that he lied about drug use in Spare. "We all know that he was trying to sell copies of his book, so I imagine that before deportation, there might be some sort of embarrassing climbdown." During a hearing last month, Bardo told a Washington DC court that Spare "isn't sworn testimony or proof" and should not be seen as such. He added: "Saying something in a book doesn't necessarily make it true." Details of the Duke's visa application have never been confirmed so far and Bardo himself failed to disclose exactly which type Harry applied for. He did say it was "certainly plausible" that Harry relied on a 'category A' visa - which is normally reserved for government officials. Bardo said: "He's still a member of the British Royal Family and has the title Duke of Sussex... he's still a government official in the UK by his birth and title." However, The Heritage Foundation's layer Samuel Dewey dismissed the suggestion as "absurd", citing the very public feud between the Duke and the Royal Family as the main reason why the Duke should not have been able to enter the country on a category A visa.