Prince Harry may be at risk of public embarrassment if the upcoming U.S. administration, led by Donald Trump, revisits his visa application, royal historian Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested. In a recent interview with GB News, Fitzwilliams discussed the possibility, acknowledging the potential diplomatic complications that could arise if the former president were to focus on the Duke’s immigration status.
“There’s no doubt that this is a pretty toxic issue,” Fitzwilliams commented, “but I can’t see that the future administration would want to be involved in problems with the British royal family, which obviously would occur if this happened.” However, he noted the contentious relationship between the Sussexes and Trump. Meghan Markle previously called Trump “misogynistic and divisive,” while Trump labeled Meghan “nasty.”
Both Harry and Meghan took care not to involve themselves directly in the recent election, urging people to vote generally rather than endorsing a specific candidate. Fitzwilliams suspects that a Trump administration would have more pressing issues to address. “I very strongly suspect that the new administration has other priorities,” he said, adding that Trump likely “wouldn’t want the enormous amount of fuss” that could accompany such an inquiry.
Still, the topic remains relevant, as Fitzwilliams pointed out. Conservative figure Nigel Farage has already hinted that Trump might consider looking into it, following the efforts of the Heritage Foundation—a right-wing organization that has pushed for details on Prince Harry’s visa. The foundation’s interest stems from Harry’s admission in his memoir, Spare, that he previously used illicit substances.
According to U.S. immigration law, such an admission could be grounds for denying entry, which raises questions about how Harry’s visa was granted. Fitzwilliams added that discretion is typically expected in such matters. “The Biden administration didn’t want to go into it,” he explained. A judge dismissed the Heritage Foundation’s request to review Harry’s visa application in September, but Fitzwilliams acknowledged that “it is perfectly possible that it might be reopened.”
“If it was reopened, it would be very embarrassing for the Sussexes,” he concluded, warning of the possible fallout should the matter resurface. While the issue remains speculative, Fitzwilliams’s comments highlight the delicate balance Harry and Meghan may need to navigate with an administration less sympathetic to them than the current one.
As Fitzwilliams emphasized, Trump’s involvement could reignite public scrutiny on Harry’s U.S. residency status, creating potential diplomatic tension between the former president’s administration and the British royal family.