Elsewhere in his speech, the Prince pointed out: “In this moment of difficulty and division … we gather here in a spirit of unity.”
The speech was already somewhat extraordinary, given the royal family’s protocol on not commenting on politics, but many have taken Harry’s comments as a subtle jab at Trump.
The drama involving his visa began when conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation launched legal action to force US authorities to release details of Harry’s immigration forms.
Harry’s admission in his book Spare that he had experimented with cocaine, cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms would probably have also needed to be disclosed on his application when he moved from the UK to the US in 2020.
The Heritage Foundation has lobbied to find out whether he omitted that information or received preferential treatment during the process.
US government lawyers insist releasing the documents would violate Harry’s privacy rights.
There’s been plenty of speculation Trump would get involved – and it was unlikely to be favourable to Harry, given his past comments on the subject.
Early last year, before his election, Trump told UK politician Nigel Farage on UK news channel GB News, “We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
The President has made no secret of his particular disdain for Meghan, who called him “misogynistic” and “divisive” while she was an actor starring in Suits, and before her relationship with Harry.
In 2019, he called her “nasty” before a state visit to the UK, and in 2022, told TV presenter Piers Morgan that Harry is “whipped” and predicted the couple would eventually divorce.
Trump has also criticised the couple for “betraying” the late Queen, of who he was a big fan.
Though the President has ruled out getting involved in Harry’s visa drama, the Heritage Foundation is continuing the legal battle.
