Prince Harry’s return to Britain with Meghan Markle and their children has renewed speculation about whether the Duke of Sussex’s unresolved US visa records dispute played any part in the move.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK in late August after living in California for about six years. They are expected to maintain links with the United States while their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, begin schooling in Britain. Reuters reported that the couple are retaining their California home, making the move different from a complete withdrawal from the US.
The timing has nevertheless attracted attention because a separate legal battle over US government records concerning Harry remains unresolved.
Why Prince Harry’s US visa is back in the spotlight
The controversy stems from Prince Harry’s disclosures about past drug use in his memoir Spare.
The conservative Heritage Foundation has argued that the public should know whether Harry disclosed that history when he applied to enter or live in the United States. His actual immigration application has not been made public, and there has been no finding that he gave false information.
An earlier attempt by the foundation to obtain Harry’s immigration records from the US Department of Homeland Security failed after a federal judge ruled that his privacy interests outweighed the arguments for public disclosure.
A separate Freedom of Information Act case involving the US State Department is continuing.
Court filings reported in August showed that officials had identified 307 documents totalling 2,487 pages. An initial group of 18 responsive records was withheld in full, while another 289 documents remained under review. The next joint status report is expected on 13 October 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, request allows people and organisations to seek records from US federal agencies. It does not, by itself, mean the person named in those records is accused of breaking immigration law.
Commentator links UK move to visa dispute
The report carried by MSN, originating from the Daily Express, quoted TalkTV presenter Mark Dolan as saying he believed Harry’s visa concerns were connected with the family’s decision to return to Britain.
Dolan claimed Harry was “sweating” over the continuing scrutiny of his visa records and argued that the Sussexes’ position in America had become increasingly uncomfortable.
Those remarks are commentary, not an official explanation from Harry, Meghan or US immigration authorities.
Neither the Duke and Duchess of Sussex nor their representatives have publicly said that the visa dispute caused their return to Britain.
Other reporting has pointed to different considerations, including the couple wanting Archie and Lilibet to develop stronger ties with Britain and Harry’s desire to spend more time closer to his father, King Charles III.
Trump says he is ‘happy’ Sussexes left US
President Donald Trump has also commented publicly on the Sussexes’ return.
Asked about their departure from the United States on 2 September, Trump said he was “happy about it” and criticised the couple’s treatment of the Royal Family. He did not announce any immigration action against Harry during those remarks.
Meanwhile, King Charles has formally confirmed that Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain does not restore their previous position as working royals.
A letter issued on the King’s behalf said their position remains similar to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
NewDailyPrime has previously covered Prince Harry’s public life, including his decision to step down as patron of the Sentebale charity amid a dispute over its leadership and governance.
Related news
- Prince Harry resigns as patron of Sentebale amid charity crisis
- Foreign pupils turn away from UK private schools as visa numbers fall
- UK government crackdown on illegal workers sees arrests surge 51%
What readers should know
Prince Harry’s US immigration records remain the subject of a Freedom of Information legal dispute, but that is not the same as an immigration case against him. There has been no official finding that he lied on a visa application, no announced cancellation of his status and no evidence establishing that the Sussexes returned to Britain to avoid embarrassment over the dispute. Claims linking the two should therefore be presented as speculation unless further evidence emerges.
