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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Amber O'Connor & Jennifer Newton

Prince Harry won't be deported or face US visa probe after drug admissions, lawyer claims

There were calls for Prince Harry's US visa application to be made public after he sensationally confessed to using drugs in the past.

In his controversial memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex admitted to taking cocaine, cannabis and magic mushrooms

And in a recent interview, he also spoke of how psychedelic drugs have helped him "deal with the traumas and pains of the past".

However, despite strict laws and harsh penalties surrounding America's immigration policies - including deportation - a lawyer claims Harry is unlikely to face any 'immigration consequences'. Hundreds of Brits are banned from the US after over their drug misuse.

Prince Harry has admitted to taking drugs (AFP via Getty Images)

But celebrity lawyer James. J Leonard - who represented the Real Housewives of New Jersey's Joe Giudice in his deportation case - has said he does not envision a probe into Harry's immigration status.

The Atlantic City-based attorney told the Mirror: "I do not envision any viable scenario where revelations in a memoir related to experimental and recreational drug use would lead to any immigration consequences for Prince Harry.

"Where this would become an absolute issue is if there was a criminal case of any kind and if those allegations were related to drugs or alcohol and it was determined that he was a habitual user, which I do not believe is the case here, that would raise concerns and create real problems.

Harry currently lives in California (Getty Images)

"Should a scenario like that occur, which I don't see happening, Prince Harry's status as a royal would make subject the review of his matter to heightened scrutiny which would likely have a detrimental effect on the outcome."

America's Heritage Foundation has been calling for Harry's visa application to be released so the US taxpayer can understand whether the royal declared his drug use.

The Heritage Foundation argues if immigration officials did know about the royal's drug use, Harry's case raises questions over whether he was given special treatment because he is a prince and his wife is a TV star, which they insist would be illegal.

Harry arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing this morning (PA)

In response to the Foundation's calls, a US State Department spokesman said: "Visa records are confidential under Section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA); therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases."

And Mr Leonard added: "From what I have seen, I believe that Prince Harry is going to acclimate quite well to life in America thanks in large part to the way that he was raised by his mother, Princess Diana.

"I think that she was well versed in the social and cultural ways of the west and raised both Harry and Prince William to honour and respect the traditions of their lineage, but also with an understanding of how the rest of the world works. I think Prince Harry is going to do just fine."

Harry was snapped by photographers outside the Royal Courts Of Justice (PA)

It comes as earlier today, Harry made an unexpected appearance in London, where he was seen arriving at the High Court to attend a hearing in his latest legal row.

It is believed to be the first time he has been back in the UK since his grandmother the late Queen's funeral in September.

His surprise return also comes nearly three months after he laid bare his troubled relationship with his father King Charles and brother William in his controversial autobiography Spare.

The hearing today was also due to coincide with Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to France, which was meant to start yesterday but was shelved due to unrest in the country.

But according to the Telegraph, Harry is not expected to meet up with his father while in the UK - e ven though the King was informed of his visit - as he is "busy".

Buckingham Palace said the King was not in Windsor or London and would be leaving for a state visit to Germany on Wednesday morning.

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