Princess Lilibet, daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, might not be deemed a US citizen if Meghan held the same visa as Harry, according to an American immigration lawyer.
Melissa Chavin of the Chavin Immigration Law Office discussed this intriguing scenario on GB News’ The Royal Record podcast. She explained how Princess Lilibet’s citizenship could be affected by Prince Harry’s entry into the United States on an A1 Head of State visa. Harry holds this visa because Meghan is a US citizen.
When asked whether both of Harry and Meghan’s children would qualify as US citizens, Chavin highlighted Lilibet’s unique case, given her US birth. “If Meghan Markle wasn’t a US citizen and if she had an A1 Head of State spousal visa, then Lilibet would be a very unusual exception to the rule that anyone born in the United States is a US citizen,” she said. “It’s a funny thing to think about,” Chavin added.
About Princess Lilibet
Meghan gave birth to Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021, in California. Lilibet is named after Queen Elizabeth’s family nickname, and her middle name honors her late grandmother, Princess Diana.
Last weekend, the family celebrated Lilibet’s third birthday privately at their Montecito home. Since stepping back as working royals and moving to the United States, the Duke and Duchess have kept Lilibet and her five-year-old brother, Archie, out of the spotlight.
Prince Harry’s US Visa Under Scrutiny
Prince Harry’s US visa has become a subject of legal scrutiny following his admission of illegal drug use in his memoir, “Spare.” The Heritage Foundation is suing the Department of Homeland Security to release Harry’s visa documents, aiming to determine if he disclosed his drug use before obtaining the visa.
Under US law, foreign nationals who admit to drug use may be denied entry and a visa. However, admitting past drug use does not automatically lead to deportation. Visa applicants are legally required to disclose any drug use on their application.
This peculiar visa situation highlights the complexities of immigration laws and how they can uniquely affect even members of the royal family.
