As Donald Trump gets ready to step into the Oval Office as the 47th president of the United States, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be feeling the heat. The duo, who remained remarkably silent during the election period, could now face uncertainties in the US, particularly after Trump has publicly said he'd think about deporting Prince Harry related to his visa issues. Bereft of a warm welcome to return to their UK fold, a source told OK! that the couple are in a quandary over their future residence.
They said: "They feel very torn about what to do next, they honestly thought Kamala Harris would get in and they would be friends with the President - this is a hellish situation for them. Harry's worried about deportation happening, he's worried about leaving." The source continued, shedding light on the Sussexes' current state of mind: "They're both feeling very unsettled right now, what with everything going on in America, plus all the pressure on them to do well with their projects. They have to perform in 2025 as companies like Netflix won't stand for anything that isn't a huge hit because of all the money they've paid them."
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Getty Images)In addition to their philanthropic efforts through the Archewell Foundation and parenting their two children - five year old Prince Archie and three year old Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan Markle, 42, are also slated to feature in several new documentaries. These include a professional polo scene documentary with Harry and a cooking show with Meghan. However, with Harry's ongoing visa issues potentially escalating under Trump's administration, there's more at risk than just their television careers. Last year, the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank based in Washington DC filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The suit questioned whether the royal's visa application for his January 2020 move to the States was adequately scrutinised and called for the records to be made public. All US visa applicants must disclose any current or past drug use. The lawsuit was filed after Harry shockingly confessed in his memoir 'Spare' that he had used cocaine, magic mushrooms, and marijuana in his youth. The 55-page lawsuit demanded the release of his application to verify if he had disclosed his drug use.
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AFP via Getty Images)It argued that the "widespread and continuous" coverage of his book raised questions about whether DHS correctly admitted the Duke of Sussex, given his public admission to the essential elements of numerous drug offences both in the United States and abroad. In September, a judge decided that Prince Harry's visa application should be kept confidential, citing that the public interest in disclosure was "outweighed by the duke's privacy interest". However, with a changeover at the White House on the horizon, speculation is mounting about whether a reshuffle of security personnel could open the door to a successful challenge of that ruling.
The visa saga has been a recurring theme in Trump's rhetoric; back in February, he remarked that the US had been "too gracious" towards Harry since his relocation stateside with Meghan four years ago. Trump has also stated he "wouldn't protect" Harry if any issues arose with his visa application and even commented on Harry's relationship with his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, saying: "He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me."
When GB News' Nigel Farage pressed the President-elect in March on whether Harry deserved "special privileges" in the event of falsehoods on his application, the response was unequivocal: "No," he declared. "We'll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, they'll have to take appropriate action." As Trump's inauguration looms, insiders claim the Sussexes are feeling cornered by the situation. "Their main worry is that Harry could be deported now that Trump is the next President," they revealed. "He has made no secret of the fact that he dislikes him for the way Harry treated the royal family and he has the power to throw out anyone, and can use Harry's drug taking admission as a reason."
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AFP via Getty Images)Celebrities like Samuel L Jackson, Cher, Miley Cyrus and Neve Campbell previously vowed to leave America if Trump became President, but faced backlash for seemingly fleeing the issue. However, with their new abode in Portugal, Harry and Meghan might find comfort closer to Harry's UK relatives, our source suggests. Last month, it was widely reported that the couple had spent over £6m on a house in Melides, where Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie and Hollywood A-lister George Clooney also have properties. "They're both worried about what life will be like in the US now, and they'll spend more time in Portugal after buying a home there" our insider claimed, "and if Harry had his way, they would be based there."
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