By DANICA KIRKA (Associated Press)
Prince Harry, who is the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has confirmed that he is now a resident of the United States.
After four years of living in a villa in Southern California with his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry's travel company filed documents to inform British authorities that he has moved to the United States.
This confirmation highlights the prince's growing distance from Britain, as he and Meghan left their royal duties to pursue media deals in America. Harry has criticized the royal family multiple times, discussing allegations of unconscious racism in a Netflix series and in his autobiography, “Spare.”
The paperwork was submitted by Travalyst Ltd, a company primarily owned by Harry and established in 2020 to promote sustainable tourism globally. The documentation was received by Companies House, the U.K. government agency overseeing the incorporation of companies.
This filing further separates Harry from his role as a counselor of state, a member of the royal family who can carry out the duties of the monarch if needed.
Although Harry remains a counselor of state in a formal capacity, the crown informed Parliament in 2022 that only working members of the royal family would be called upon to act as a monarch's stand-in in practice.
Despite settling in Montecito and raising their children in the wealthy enclave, Harry faces scrutiny regarding his residency in the United States.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's decision to grant Harry a visa given his past admissions of drug use detailed in “Spare.”
The foundation is seeking to have the department release Harry’s immigration file, arguing that the prince may have been dishonest on his visa application or received special treatment, as a history of drug use would typically disqualify an applicant from obtaining a visa.
