Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, made a stunning decision this week that left many Britons displeased.
Harry, who abandoned his royal duties and moved to the U.S., denounced his U.K. residency, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail. The Duke recently updated his housing records, stating that his “New Country/State is now the U.S.
Companies House filed the change for Harry’s eco-travel venture, Travalyst, a travel initiative that Harry founded in 2019.
The change indicates that this residency shift occurred on June 29, 2023, following Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s departure from their UK home, Frogmore Cottage.
This legal change comes amidst ongoing discussions about the couple’s status within the royal family and their plans.
Prince Harry renounces British residency, declares US is his ‘new country’ https://t.co/24ECoUd1NE pic.twitter.com/mfPpugd9QO
— Page Six (@PageSix) April 18, 2024
In 2020, Harry and Meghan relocated to the U.S., where they now live with their kids, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, in Montecito, California.
While the change might shock most people, Harry mentioned it in a Good Morning America interview a few months ago.
During the interview, Harry opened up about the possibility of him becoming a U.S. citizen. He said he has considered becoming a U.S. citizen but did not confirm whether or when he would apply.
“I have no idea. I’m here standing next to these guys. The American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind, but certainly not a priority for me right now,” he said.
However, despite the legal change, Harry explained that he still considered the UK his home.
“The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live in the US,” he said.
Immigrant Prince Harry has finally renounced one of his last links with the U.K.; his residency status. https://t.co/2KrXGsOqPv
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 17, 2024
According to the New York Post, Harry and his wife were evicted from their UK home, which was gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth following their wedding in 2018. The move left the couple with no official UK residence before they moved to the U.S.
According to a recognized news outlet, while Harry has expressed interest in becoming an American citizen, it is not his top priority as of now.
His 2023 bestselling memoir “Spare,” which details his prior drug use, continues to raise concerns about the immigration procedure.
However, legal experts suggest that if the Prince doesn’t encounter further legal issues, his residency change may not have a minimal impact.