Harry says he’s considered US citizenship but it’s ‘not a priority’

  • The royal said he is ‘loving every single day’ of his life in California 

Prince Harry said he has ‘considered’ becoming a US citizen, but admits it is not at the top of his priority list.

The royal told ABC’s Good Morning America that he is ‘loving’ his new life in America so much he may take the citizenship test – even though doing so would force him to relinquish his royal titles. 

‘It’s amazing, I love every single day,’ he said of his life in California. 

When asked what would prevent him from becoming a US citizen, he added: ‘I have no idea. I’m here standing here with these guys. American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but not a high priority for me.’ 

The Duke of Sussex during the interview in Whistler with ABC correspondent Will Reeve

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with ABC presenter Will Reeve in Whistler on Wednesday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with ABC presenter Will Reeve in Whistler on Wednesday

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Do you think Harry should be a US citizen?

The Duke of Sussex gave the interview in Whistler, Canada, following a week where he faced backlash for launching his Sussex.com website. 

Harry previously faced scrutiny over his US Visa after admitting to ‘multiple’ occasions of drug use in his memoir, Spare. 

In Spare and the TV blitz that followed, Harry admitted taking cocaine, cannabis and magic mushrooms. He said marijuana and psychedelics ‘really helped’ with his ‘trauma’ while cocaine was more a ‘social thing’. 

The admission led to calls from some campaigners to clarify whether he told US officials about his drug use when applying for residency.  

It was later claimed that he was ‘truthful’ on his visa application and confessed to the drug use, which also included taking the hallucinogenic Amazonian plant ayahuasca, whose effect he described as ‘the cleaning of the windshield, the removal of life’s filters’.

The process of becoming a US citizen would also be different for Harry than most, as he would be subject to stipulations on his royal titles.

According to US immigration policy, ‘any applicant who has any titles of heredity or positions of nobility in any foreign state must renounce the title or the position.’

The policy also mandates that Harry would have to ‘expressly renounce the title in a public ceremony and USCIS must record the renunciation as part of the proceedings.’ 

The Duke of Sussex gave the interview in Whistler, Canada, following a week where he and Meghan Markle faced backlash for launching their Sussex.com website

The Duke of Sussex gave the interview in Whistler, Canada, following a week where he and Meghan Markle faced backlash for launching their Sussex.com website

Harry also discussed the King’s health as he spoke publicly for the first time since Charles postponed all public-facing duties last week following the diagnosis.

Asked by GMA presenter Will Reeve how the short trip back home was for him ’emotionally’, Harry replied: ‘Um, look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.’

Reeve, the son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve who was paralysed in 1995, said: ‘I’ve also found in my own life that sort of an illness in the family can have a galvanising or a sort of reunifying effect for a family. Is that possible in this case?’

Speaking in Whistler, Canada, Harry replied: ‘Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis, again, the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together.’

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