Prince Harry’s future in America could be decided by a man who once called his wife a “classic alarm clock” and accused her of wanting “gifts.”
Depending on the type of visa the Duke of Sussex has, his fate may be in the hands of whoever Donald Trump appoints as Secretary of State.
One of the leading contenders is Ric Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany who also served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term.
In the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s historic interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021, Grenell offered an uncompromising view.
“Meghan Markle is classic American progressive awakening,” he tweeted. “She doesn’t want to do the work, but she’s upset because she doesn’t get the gifts.”
Potential Secretary of State Ric Grenell with Donald Trump
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, released a video message at the Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia. this week
Another candidate for Secretary of State is Senator Marco Rubio, who has not made his feelings about Prince Harry public.
Rubio has a keen interest in British affairs and has in the past expressed high praise for the late Queen and Sir Winston Churchill.
The Duke’s visa status remains secret after Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC ruled on September 9 that US government documents relating to it will not be made public.
The judge sealed his order so it is not known why he made that decision.
However, experts have told Dailymail.com that the Duke may have a rare diplomatic visa known as the A-1 Head of State visa.
Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, “members of a reigning royal family” qualify for a standard A-1 diplomatic visa, but it is intended for when performing official duties.
A holder of an A-1 Head of State visa can be in the US regardless of the reason for their travel and can work if they wish.
Upon receipt there is a discretionary exception for any person “individually authorized” by the US Department of State.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, presents the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award at the 13th annual NFL Honors Ceremony on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.
Donald Trump greets Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., during a campaign rally at the JS Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 4, 2024.
The regulations say: ‘In any case in which there is uncertainty about the applicability of these regulations to a principal alien applicant applying for such nonimmigrant status, the matter shall be immediately referred to the Department (of State) for consideration as to whether acceptance of The accreditation will be valid. be granted.”
Melissa Chavín, an immigration lawyer based in the United Kingdom, said such visas are proposed by the Foreign Office to the State Department and are “very much a handshake agreement.”
The duke would have “duration of status” and would only need to be reviewed “from time to time.”
It leaves open the possibility that the duke may have his status withdrawn.
‘If the American Foreign Office says it goes against American foreign policy, that will really anger the British Foreign Office. “It wouldn’t be good to do that to an ally,” Chavín said.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex at the Children’s Hospital Gala in Los Angeles, California on October 5, 2024
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex visits Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara on October 2, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California
‘Maybe they’ll use it as a chip. maybe it comes up when the British are doing something that Americans don’t like. “Therefore, it is not a good position for him (the Duke), as he could be a piece in the game of diplomacy.”
He added: “I don’t think they (the Trump administration) would do it for no reason, it would bring about a really bad relationship.” It is a bargaining chip to negotiate with the British.
The legal case over the Duke’s visa status was brought under the Freedom of Information Act by a Washington DC-based think tank, the Heritage Foundation, against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees immigration, instead of the State Department.
The think tank claims the Duke’s admission to taking drugs in his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’ could have made him ineligible to enter the US.
Richard Grenell, senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump and former acting director of National Intelligence
Eric Trump hints that the British prince could be deported if his father wins the presidential election
When applying for a non-diplomatic US visa, foreign nationals are asked on the DHS visa form DS160: “Are you or have you ever been a drug addict or addict?”
They are also asked if they have ever “violated any laws related to controlled substances.”
If they answer “yes,” they may still receive an exemption.
Sources close to the duke have previously indicated that he responded truthfully in his visa application.
However, it has not been confirmed what type of visa he applied for.
After the judge’s ruling, the think tank is appealing and believes a Trump presidency makes it more likely that the documents will eventually be released.
He accuses the Biden administration of having “done everything possible to protect Prince Harry.”
In March, Donald Trump suggested he could deport the duke, telling GB News: “We’ll have to see if they know anything about the drugs, and if he lied, they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
Last month, Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, told Dailymail.com: “To tell you the truth, I don’t give a damn about Prince Harry and I don’t think this country does either.”
At a hearing in the legal case in February, Judge Nichols and John Bardo, the DHS attorney, repeatedly argued over whether the duke could have an A-1 diplomatic visa.
Mr Bardo told the court: ‘You could have a category A diplomatic visa. It is possible. We would say it is possible.’
If the Duke has an A-1 visa, his admission of drug use would not be an issue, as holders do not have to be screened for past drug abuse, addiction or drug-related crimes.
His subsequent admission of drug use in his book would not affect said visa either.
The Duchess of Sussex addresses the audience during the ‘Afro Women and Power’ forum at the Teatro Municipal in Cali, Colombia, on August 18, 2024.
If he has a diplomatic visa and it is revoked, the Duke could still apply for a green card through his marriage to an American, or an O-1 visa for “aliens of extraordinary ability.”
However, experts have told Dailymail.com that this could expose the Royal Family to having to declare private information to the US government.
Under the US Foreign Bank and Financial Account Reporting (FBAR) Act, the Duke, if he becomes a tax resident in the US, would have to disclose all bank accounts in the UK.
“There’s a reason the United States has real visas: it has to do with taxes and foreign bank accounts,” Chavín said. ‘This would begin to affect the rest of the Royal Family, not just him. That’s one of the reasons.
“Its purpose is to protect things that should be private and that affect other people like the king of England, things that the British would be interested in keeping private.”