Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be at risk of losing their £12 million mansion in Montecito, California as the legal row surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s US visa rumbles on

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be at risk of losing their £12 million mansion in Montecito, California as the legal row surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s US visa rumbles on (Image: (Image: Getty))

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are caught up in a legal tussle that could see them lose their lavish £12 million Montecito home, as the controversy over the Duke of Sussex’s US visa intensifies.

In a bold move last year, the Heritage Foundation filed a lawsuit demanding that the Biden administration disclose Harry’s US visa records, particularly to clarify if his self-confessed drug use was ever mentioned.

Harry’s candid revelations about his past drug experiences in his explosive memoir ‘Spare’, released in January 2023, have sparked speculation about whether these admissions were reflected in his visa application.

Harry was open about his past drug use in his 2023 memoir, Spare (Image: (Image: Getty))
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to The Sun about the potential PR nightmare this could spell for Prince Harry.

He commented: “The fact of the matter is that it will be very embarrassing, or may be very embarrassing.”, reports the Express.

“Harry may have included drug use on his application form. If he hasn’t, it will unquestionably make headlines, and that will not be beneficial so far as the Sussexes are concerned.”

Fitzwilliams also pointed out that the Sussexes’ vocal criticism of the Royal Family might backfire, with accusations of hypocrisy looming over them.

The Sussexes purchased their sprawling Montecito estate in 2020 (Image: (Image: SANATABARBARASLUXURYHOMES.COM))
He continued: “If you attack an institution, supporters of that institution, or those who believe that you’ve been very unwise and very foolish, believe that there are double standards.”

Should the visa issue escalate, Prince Harry faces the stark possibility of deportation from the US, which would mean abandoning the couple’s £12m dream house in California, where they live with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Drug use can lead to the rejection of non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications, although immigration officers have the discretion to make the final call, considering various factors.

If Harry has not declared his drug use on his visa application, he could be deported from the US and forced the sell the California home (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

A US judge is currently examining the case, with a verdict expected in the coming weeks.

The Department of Homeland Security has insisted that this information should be kept confidential and stated it will not be disclosed during President Biden’s tenure.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes has been contacted for a comment by OK!.