Across the Pond: Prince Harry's American Dream and the Question of Citizenship

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has found himself firmly planted on American soil these past few years. And, honestly, it’s been quite the journey to watch, hasn’t it? Ever since he and Meghan made the pivotal decision to step back from their senior royal duties and seek a new chapter, California has become their undeniable home base. But a recent interview—one linked to his tireless advocacy for the Invictus Games, a cause so deeply personal to him—brought forth a question that, in truth, has been on many minds: would he, could he, ever become a US citizen?

During his chat with "Good Morning America," the query came, direct and to the point. Harry, ever the thoughtful one, admitted he has indeed "considered it." Yet, and this is the crucial part, he quickly added that it’s simply "not a high priority" for him right now. You could almost hear a collective exhale, or maybe a quiet murmur of "ah, not yet then," across the pond. It’s a pragmatic answer, really, one that perhaps suggests a deeper understanding of the intricate web such a move would entail.

He seems genuinely content here, doesn’t he? Harry spoke warmly of his life in the US, praising the "amazing" community he and his family have found in California. And for good reason, too; it’s a place that has, arguably, offered him a sense of normalcy and privacy often elusive in his former life. But even as he embraces this American existence, the question of full citizenship hangs in the air, a rather complex beast.

Think about it for a moment. Becoming a US citizen isn't just a simple application form, particularly for someone with Harry's unique lineage and public profile. There are, for starters, the tax implications—oh, the tax implications! His financial entanglements with the UK, not to mention his various assets, would suddenly be under the watchful eye of the IRS. And then there's the oath, that rather significant vow of allegiance that, historically, asks individuals to renounce all foreign allegiances. For a prince, a royal duke, no matter how 'retired' from official duties, that's no small ask, is it? One wonders how that would sit with his remaining ties, both familial and ceremonial, to the United Kingdom and the Crown.

It's a curious balancing act, this life he's built. While his wife, Meghan, is a native US citizen, Harry remains a UK subject. And so, for now, the Duke of Sussex seems perfectly content enjoying the sunshine and relative peace of California, with the idea of formal American citizenship simmering quietly on the back burner. Perhaps one day, yes, but for now, it seems the focus remains squarely on his family, his work, and, well, simply living his life, albeit under an entirely different sky.