Harry says he's considered US citizenship but it's 'not a priority'

The Duke said he is 'loving every single day' of his life in California Harry would be forced to relinquish his royal titles to become a US citizen It came after he made his first remarks on King Charles' cancer diagnosis 

Prince Harry said he has ‘considered’ becoming a US citizen, but admits it is not at the top of his priority list.

The royal told ABC’s Good Morning America that he is ‘loving’ his new life in America so much he may take the citizenship test – even though doing so would force him to relinquish his royal titles.

‘It’s amazing, I love every single day,’ he said of his life in California.

When asked what would prevent him from becoming a US citizen, he added: ‘I have no idea. I’m here standing here with these guys. American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but not a high priority for me.’

Prince Harry said he has ‘considered’ becoming a US citizen, and said he is ‘loving every single day’ of his life in California with Meghan Markle

The Duke of Sussex during the interview in Whistler with ABC correspondent Will Reeve

According to US immigration policy, Harry would be forced to relinquish his royal titles if he applied for American citizenship

The Duke of Sussex gave the interview in Whistler, Canada, following a week where he faced backlash for launching his Sussex.com website.

However, the process of becoming a US citizen would be different for Harry than most, as he would be subject to stipulations on his royal titles.

According to US immigration policy, ‘any applicant who has any titles of heredity or positions of nobility in any foreign state must renounce the title or the position.’

The policy also mandates that Harry would have to ‘expressly renounce the title in a public ceremony and USCIS must record the renunciation as part of the proceedings.’

Harry also previously faced scrutiny over his US Visa after admitting to ‘multiple’ occasions of drug use in his memoir, Spare.

In Spare and the TV blitz that followed, Harry admitted taking cocaine, cannabis and magic mushrooms. He said marijuana and psychedelics ‘really helped’ with his ‘trauma’ while cocaine was more a ‘social thing’.

The admission led to calls from some campaigners to clarify whether he told US officials about his drug use when applying for residency.

It was later claimed that he was ‘truthful’ on his visa application and confessed to the drug use, which also included taking the hallucinogenic Amazonian plant ayahuasca, which he described as ‘the cleaning of the windshield, the removal of life’s filters.’

The Duke of Sussex gave the interview in Whistler, Canada, following a week where he and Meghan Markle faced backlash for launching their Sussex.com website. The two are pictured with ABC presenter Will Reeve in Whistler on Wednesday

The Duke has been trailed by TV crews as he prepares for the Invictus Games’ One Year to Go event

Meghan smiles as she steps out in a black puffer coat, black jeans, ski boots and sunglasses

The Duke previously flirted with US citizenship three years ago, although his plans were put on hold due to Covid-19.

At the time, a royal source told The Times: ‘Prince Harry will not apply for a green card or US citizenship in the foreseeable future.

‘Although his status as the husband of a US citizen would smooth his path to permanent residence, the Sussexes’ plans to launch themselves in America are thought to be on hold because of the virus.’

Harry also discussed the King’s health as he spoke publicly for the first time since Charles postponed all public-facing duties last week following the diagnosis.

Asked by GMA presenter Will Reeve how the short trip back home was for him ’emotionally’, Harry replied: ‘Um, look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.’

Reeve, the son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve who was paralyzed in 1995, said: ‘I’ve also found in my own life that sort of an illness in the family can have a galvanizing or a sort of reunifying effect for a family. Is that possible in this case?’

Speaking in Whistler, Canada, Harry replied: ‘Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis, again, the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together.’

Before his bombshell interview where he said he was considering relinquishing his royal titles for a US citizenship, Harry found time to try his hand at the skeleton bobsled

Prince Harry reacts after sliding down the track on a skeleton sled in Whistler yesterday

When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join Harry on the sled, Meghan said: ‘I can’t!’

The interview comes after a week of announcements from Harry and his wife the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan signed a deal with Lemonada Media to record new podcast shows, and the company will distribute her previous series.

Her Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes ran for just one series before a lucrative deal with Spotify ended in 2023.

The couple also relaunched their Archewell website, the name of their foundation, rebranding it The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

A film crew led by Mr Reeve has been following Harry and his wife Meghan Markle since they arrived in Canada on Tuesday for a countdown event to the Invictus Games in Whistler and Vancouver

Yesterday, the Sussexes did not look phased as they took part in activities at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers One Year To Go Winter Training Camp, while being followed around by a camera crew.

The festivities saw Harry try his hand at the skeleton bobsled, although Meghan opted not to strap into her winter sport kit.

While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun at the Whistler Sliding Center in British Columbia, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled – before he enthusiastically re-enacted it to his wife and Invictus volunteers after getting off.

Harry appeared in good spirits at the event on Wednesday

Meghan was wrapped up in a black padded jacket and leggings and a navy hat yesterday

The couple had a chat as film crews followed them around in Whistler

Meghan was beaming with pride as she held up her phone to snap images and clips as Harry whizzed to the end of the track.

She was wrapped up against the -4C (25F) temperatures in a black padded jacket and leggings and a navy hat and scarf while her husband kept things casual in gray pants and a black insulated Invictus Games-branded jacket – topped off with a white crash helmet.

When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back: ‘I can’t!’

The couple, fresh from a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner date, were both in high spirits as they made their entrance to their Invictus Games One Year to Go tour venue.

As a beaming Harry whizzing past on his bobsled, Meghan quipped ‘I can hear him’ as his sled set off and filming him on her phone as he flashed past.

After the high-speed arrival, to the sound of Invictus branded cowbells waved by onlookers, came a meet and greet with athletes preparing to perform at the event next year on a platform overlooking the track.

Among the athletes waiting to be introduced were Canadian veteran and mental health advocate Mark Beare, Estonian former soldier and amputee Rasmus Penno and Nigerian powerlifter and ex-soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam.