Prince Harry's recent revelation about considering becoming a United States citizen has sparked discussions about the potential implications for his royal titles. During an interview at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebration in Canada, the Duke of Sussex shared that the idea of American citizenship had crossed his mind, although it was not a top priority for him at the moment.
While Prince Harry expressed his enjoyment of life in California, he admitted that he did not feel American when asked directly. Should he decide to pursue U.S. citizenship, he may be required to renounce his royal titles as per the policy manual of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.
According to the policy, individuals with hereditary titles or positions of nobility in foreign states must renounce these titles publicly as part of the naturalization process. Failure to do so could indicate a lack of attachment to the U.S. Constitution.
Legal experts have pointed out that the requirement to renounce titles could potentially be challenged under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, as it treats individuals differently based on their background. The law also raises questions about the status of titles held by natural-born U.S. citizens who receive titles from foreign governments.
Prince Harry's children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, have also been at the center of discussions regarding royal titles. While born without royal titles, they were later styled as 'Princess' and 'Prince' respectively after certain events. The issue of titles and citizenship has become a complex legal matter that could potentially reach the Supreme Court for clarification.
Notably, Meghan Markle had previously expressed her intention to become a U.K. citizen after her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017. However, she did not complete the citizenship process, citing the difficulty of the U.K.'s citizenship exam.
The evolving situation surrounding Prince Harry's potential U.S. citizenship and its impact on his royal titles continues to generate interest and speculation among royal watchers and legal experts alike.
