There is ‘definitely a public interest’ in Americans knowing if Prince Harry told the truth about his drug taking when he applied for a US visa, according to a royal expert.
The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden made the comments after an American think tank reopened its case to have the Duke’s immigration papers released.
The Heritage Foundation has raised questions about how he was able to gain entry to the US in 2020 with his wife Meghan after having admitted in his 2023 book Spare to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.
Heritage has made accusations Harry had either lied on his papers about his drug use or has been given special treatment by the Joe Biden administration in order to emigrate to the country.
But now that royal admirer Donald Trump has taken control of the presidency, there have been suggestions that he might not be as sympathetic to the Duke, of whom he has been critical of in the past.
Discussing the development on the Mail’s YouTube show Palace Confidential, Richard said: ‘Migration is a big subject in America at the moment with Trump’s plan to repatriate illegal immigrants.
‘The Heritage Foundation wants to know more information about how he acquired his status to live in the USA. You have to declare if you have had past use of drugs, Harry has written about that in his memoirs, and they want to know.
‘Did he tell the truth?
The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden has claimed on the latest episode of the Mail’s YouTube show Palace Confidential that there is ‘definitely a public interest’ in Americans knowing if Prince Harry told the truth about his drug taking when he applied for a US visa
US President Donald Trump pictured in the Oval Office on January 6 signing an executive order for pardons. He has previously said he ‘wouldn’t protect’ Harry
If the files are made public and Harry is found to have lied, he faces leaving his life in the Californian town of Montecito behind
Watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential here:
‘Harry has a big problem now because it is thought that the new president may be less sympathetic to Harry and Meghan judging on previous comments, so he may encourage the judge to make the reasons public.
‘Why can’t Americans know why this person was allowed in and on what basis?
‘The key thing is that everyone is treated the same whether rich or poor, so there is definitely a public interest in knowing.’
Lawyers for The Heritage Foundation and the Department for Homeland Security have now been ordered by a judge to meet at a federal court in Washington DC on Wednesday, February 5.
Heritage lost a previous case in September when it brought a lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security after a Freedom of Information request for the documents to be released was rejected as a judge ruled it should remain private.
The comments were made on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, which is hosted by Jo Elvin and features fresh insights and discussion on the biggest royal news of the week.
Elsewhere in the show, the panel also discussed the news that Reform leader Nigel Farage had sarcastically dismissed Harry and Meghan as ‘wonderboy and wondergirl’ for quitting royal duties and moving to America.
He made the comments while at Buckingham Palace after he was invited there along with more than 300 new MPs and peers for a ‘welcome’ reception.
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice spoke to the Duchess of Edinburgh during a reception hosted by King Charles on January 29
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Richard Tice spoke with Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English said Farage also complimented the Duke and Duchess Edinburgh for doing so many royal engagements.
Although the politician did not speak to the King or Queen because he has met them multiple times before and said he wanted to let other MPs make the most of the occasion.
The panel also discussed the happy news that Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose.
The King’s niece, 36, welcomed her second daughter with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi last week.
Rebecca English said she ‘loves’ the name, describing Athena as a ‘personal choice’, Elizabeth as being a tribute to Queen Elizabeth, and Rose as tribute to Princess Margaret, whose middle name was also Rose.
She continued: ‘You could tell by the weight anyway (that she was early), but as someone said to me she came slightly early but not unexpectedly soon.’
It is believed doctors had warned a premature arrival was a possibility.
Although the panel then noted it would take a ‘cataclysmic event’ to put baby Athena on the throne, they confirmed she was now 11th in line, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place.
The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English said she ‘loves’ the name of Princess Beatrice’s new baby – Athena Elizabeth Rose
The panel of royal experts discussed the the biggest royal news of the week on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, which is hosted by Jo Elvin
Princess Beatrice gave birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, last week
Princess Beatrice gave birth to her second daughter with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (pictured). The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth, three, and stepson Wolfie, eight
The show also discussed the news of Prince William visiting a Hereford farm to learn about its journey to becoming net zero.
The Prince of Wales, 42, travelled to Lower Blakemere Farm, which is located on his Duchy of Cornwall estate.
He learned about the family’s regenerative farming practices as part of their journey to battle climate change.
Rebecca then giggled when recounting her experience the following day as the Prince gleefully goofed around with lake water.
William appeared to be in high spirits as he and local school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond.
And the royal playfully turned the tables on the media, joyfully dousing them with the water collected and declaring: ‘This is, like, the best day of my life!’
Rebecca then revealed he got into the swing of things ‘very enthusiastically’, and she overheard him telling someone ‘I enjoyed soaking those journalists’.
She then said she ‘couldn’t resist’ but shouted back to him, ‘hold on, we are here you know’ before he poked his head around and cheekily replied ‘I know’.
Prince William visiting a Hereford farm to learn about its journey to becoming net zero
William, 42, appeared to be in high spirits as he and local school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond
There was also chat about the sombre topic of King Charles’ visit to Poland where he became the first British head of state to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The monarch appeared to shed a tear while he listened to the stories of those who survived the former Nazi concentration camp as he sat with other world leaders to mark 80 years since its liberation.
Rebecca, who has covered the royal for more than 20 years, said: ‘I don’t think I have ever seen the king so moved.’
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales also paid tribute to those who suffered the horrors committed during World War II at an emotional reunion with genocide survivors.
The ceremony at Guildhall – which was shown on BBC1 at 7pm on Tuesday – brought together faith and civic leaders as well as survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.
Rebecca said she was ‘absolutely mobbed’ when she got there as people were ‘so genuinely excited to see her’.
King Charles III wiped his eye during a commemoration event at Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27
King Charles III layed a candle during commemorations at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland to mark 80 years since the liberation of the concentration camp
King Charles III looked at suitcases during a tour at the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau
But the panel paid special attention to the necklace that the Princess wore, as it came from a celebrated Jewish curator.
The royal, 43, donned a stunning vintage faux pearl necklace from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan during the commemoration.
Rebecca then described the fact that Catherine decided to wear a Jewish brand to a holocaust memorial brand meant a lot to those affected.
And the panel touched on how Princess Kate is starting to go to more royal events now as her strength continues to grow.
But they said the Palace has to manage the public’s expectations, as the demand to see more of her will only continue to build, although it might not always be possible.
The panel then discussed the story in the MailOnline by Claudia Joseph which looked at how Carole Middleton and Kate would wear the same outfits.
Rebecca ‘I love that mother and daughter can wear the same outfits’.
Although Jo confessed, her daughter wouldn’t always be too keen to wear her outfits.
But this thriftiness is not just limited to the Middletons, as Richard Eden explained the Queen was also known to reuse outfits and jewellery.
The Princess of Wales wore a necklace from a celebrated Jewish curator as she attended a moving a Holocaust Memorial Service in London on January 27
Princess Kate donned a stunning vintage faux pearl necklace (right) from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan (left) during the commemoration
The Princess of Wales had worn the £580 Max Mara coat nine years earlier, when she visited the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing Portsmouth Old Town, in December, 2015
The panel then answered viewer’s questions, which included: What is the significance of Harry and Meghan being the Duke and Duchess of Sussex?
Towards the end of the show, the panel also touched on Princess Anne’s visit to South Africa where she arrived at the equestrian centre to observe a riding lesson.
This is despite Anne suffering a health scare last June where she sustained a head injury and said she ‘can’t remember a single thing’.
Anne took some rare time off after the accident, which doctors believe was consistent with being struck by a horse.
Although no one for sure knows what happened in the incident.
Finally the panel revealed their ‘Unsung Hero of the Royal Family’ of the week.
To hear all the insights from the team of unrivalled royal experts, watch the full show on YouTube now.
