The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, might have to renounce his royal title to become a U.S. citizen.
The Invictus Games founder has been living in the U.S. for a couple of years with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
While he has yet to apply for citizenship, getting one comes with the stringent condition of cutting ties with the UK monarchy. The Duke also recently admitted that he considered filing for citizenship.
The Requirements For Prince Harry To Get U.S. Citizenship
According to Page Six, the road to Prince Harry getting U.S. citizenship might require him to renounce a key part of his life.
Part of the conditions of becoming a U.S. citizen requires that the applicant renounce “any titles of heredity or positions of nobility in any foreign state,” per the “Renunciation of Title or Order of Nobility” listed under the “Oath of Allegiance” to the United States on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
It also reads, “The applicant must expressly renounce the title in a public ceremony, and USCIS must record the renunciation as part of the proceedings.”
For Harry, this implies he would have to renounce his royal title – the Duke of Sussex. This still ties him to the UK monarchy despite his stepping down from his royal role in 2020 with his wife and moving to the United States.
If he fails to do so, the policy claims that it could be considered a “lack of attachment” to the U.S. Constitution.
Prince Harry Says He Has ‘Considered’ Applying For U.S. Citizenship
As to whether Harry has “considered” making any move to get American citizenship, he once admitted that the thought had crossed his mind.
“The American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but is certainly not something that is a high priority for me right now,” the Duke said in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
When asked what has stalled the process of getting one, Harry seemed to wiggle his way out of giving a proper reply before shifting the attention of the interview to his preparations for the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada.
“I have no idea.” Harry said, adding, “I’m here standing next to these guys,” a statement that referenced the games.
In the meantime, Harry’s current immigration status remains unclear. Having been in the U.S. for a while, it rules out the B-2 visitor’s visa or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which lasts for up to six months and 90 days, respectively. It is speculated that he might be on a diplomatic visa, although this has yet to be confirmed.
U.S. Citizenship Won’t Benefit The Duke, Claims Experts
Experts on immigration have speculated on what getting American citizenship would mean for the Duke of Sussex.
“I don’t think that would benefit him,” celebrity attorney James L. Leonard Jr said, referencing the possibility of Harry losing his title.
He added, “Immigration law is very unforgiving. It doesn’t typically give a lot of discretion to judges. I don’t know how creative [his lawyers] could get here or of [sic] if they could get creative at all.”
Another expert attorney, Alphonse Provinziano, said it could lead to a “major constitutional crisis in Britain.”
“If he [gets US citizenship], that will mean that he is no longer fifth in line for the throne and would cause a major constitutional crisis in Britain, like the abdication of his great uncle [Edward VIII],” the Los Angeles-based lawyer said.
Prince Harry’s Royal Title Recently Caused Him To Be Criticized
Recently, Harry’s title seemed to get him in trouble after he and his wife Meghan rebranded their royal website to Sussex.com.
Sources close to the royal household have claimed that the rebranding seems to go against the promises Harry and Meghan made the late Queen Elizabeth II when they stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020. They pointed out that the couple still used their coat of arms and their royal titles, just like working royals.
According to the Daily Mail, it is believed that Buckingham Palace’s Lord Chamberlain now faces a “big challenge” whether to take the matter up or “let it slide” to prevent the tense relationship between the Sussexes and the royal firm from worsening further.
Experts also slammed the timing of the rebrand, which comes after Prince Harry’s father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer.
He added, “Only a week ago, Harry was visiting his father, who, as we know, is fighting cancer. As members of the Royal Family, having stepped down from royal duties, it would surely be more sensitive and more sensible to leave their rebrand until later in the year.”
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