He has lived in Montecito, California for four years now.
In an interview with “Good Morning America” on Friday, February 16, Prince Harry declared that he was even considering applying for American citizenship.
“The idea of applying for American citizenship has crossed my mind, but it's certainly not a high priority for me at the moment,” he told journalist Will Reeve.
Meghan Markle's husband said he found his life in the United States “great”.
Asked about feeling American, the Duke of Sussex, however, put the kibosh on it.
“If I feel American?
he replied.
Uh no.
I do not know how I feel."
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Renounce your titles of nobility
If, however, the Duke of Sussex decided to begin the process of becoming an American citizen, he could be forced to renounce his titles of nobility,
People
magazine reported on Wednesday February 21.
“Any applicant who possesses titles of nobility or other noble status in a foreign state must renounce such titles or this status,” reads the procedures manual of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (USCIS).
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It adds: “The applicant must expressly renounce his titles of nobility during a public ceremony and USCIS must register this renunciation as part of the procedure.
Not renouncing these titles would demonstrate a lack of attachment to the Constitution.”
When pledging allegiance, those who possess titles of nobility must thus declare: “I further renounce the title of (…) which I previously held” or “I further renounce the status of (…) which I held until here."
A questionable rule
According to lawyer Alphonse Provinziano, this rule could nevertheless be contested.
“It’s a law established by Congress,” he continued.
But all the Constitution says is that Congress cannot confer foreign titles.
It says nothing about being a foreign citizen or having a title of nobility when you become a U.S. citizen.”
The specialist considered that it was possible to challenge this rule “under the 14th Amendment (
a clause affirming the need to guarantee the equal protection of all those who are on the territory of the United States, Editor’s note
)”.
If Prince Harry were to apply for American nationality, according to him, it would be a matter of highlighting this clause, while emphasizing that the country would treat him “differently from others” by forcing him to renounce his titles of nobility.
Alphonse Provinziano further clarified that American citizens could already receive a title of nobility from a foreign government, as was the case for Meghan Markle, American citizen who became Duchess of Sussex.
His children Archie and Lilibet became prince and princess once residents of the United States.
Before the Supreme Court
But then, if Prince Harry became American, would the Duchess of Sussex and her children also have to give up their titles of nobility?
“There is no Supreme Court decision that interprets this section of the code, simply because there have only been about a dozen American citizens holding a title of prince or princess in history of the country, replied the lawyer.
This is something that, theoretically, could go all the way to the Supreme Court, because they would have to review the law to make sure it is constitutional.”
In the event that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were to renounce their titles of nobility, they would then find themselves faced with a difficult choice: changing the name of their new site Sussex.com and that of their children Archie and Lilibet, whose Last name is also Sussex, or say goodbye to American citizenship for good.
A most significant decision, as Prince Harry and his wife have already been accused many times of capitalizing on their titles of nobility.