Prince Harry Finally Answers the Big Question About His US Citizenship In New Podcast
Despite trading palace corridors for palm trees and calling California home since 2020, Prince Harry still isn't officially a U.S. citizen. While many assumed his royal status might grant him a hall pass through the tedious formalities of citizenship, the Duke of Sussex recently made it clear that bureaucracy isn't what's holding him back. During his appearance on the Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know podcast on October 29, Harry cleared the air, bluntly revealing that he has no plans to become an American citizen. At least for now.
In the episode, during the Royal Rapid Fire segment, Minhaj quizzed, "Are you going to become a U.S. citizen?" To which the Duke bluntly replied, "Am I going to become a U.S. citizen? There are no plans to be, at this point." During the fun segment, the host also challenged Harry to attempt an American accent to see how well he had adjusted to the West Coast. With a hearty laugh, Harry took his best shot at the accent, saying, "I ordered breadsticks with ranch dressing at Applebee's." Despite being a U.K. citizen, the Duke of Sussex has adjusted well in the U.S. and introduced his children to American traditions, such as visiting Disneyland and picking pumpkins.
Interestingly, the Prince had a very different take on his U.S. citizenship last year, when he said that he had 'considered' being a citizen. In an interview with Good Morning America in February 2024, when the host asked if Harry was interested in becoming a citizen, he answered, "Whew! I have considered it, yeah…I'm here standing next to this with these guys, and the American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind, but certainly not something that is a high priority for me right now," he explained, referencing the Invictus Games Winter Training Camp they were at in Canada.
While Harry remains fickle-minded about his U.S. citizenship, his American dream may be at risk. Back in August, GB News reported that the U.S. Department of State had identified 1,007 documents linked to Harry's U.S. visa application. Among them were 217 files from the Office of the Secretary of State, 517 from the Bureau of Consular Affairs, 271 from the Office of the Legal Advisor, and two from the Deputy Secretary’s office. The case reportedly stems from a lawsuit by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which had questioned the Duke's truthfulness in his visa application, given his past use of recreational drugs.
As for his surprise appearance on the podcast, Harry shared a little more about his life in the U.S., revealing that his most American habit was surfing. The Duke also offered interesting insights into how he and Meghan Markle are raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. When asked when he would consider giving his kids cellphones, Harry answered, "I think that because of what we know now, we will be way more cautious and hesitant of allowing our kids to have access to social media, but the problem is, so many parents don't have that awareness."