Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Never-Ending Media Obsession: Immigration, Social Media, and Royal Controversies

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have once again found themselves at the center of political and media firestorms, this time over two separate but interwoven controversies:

One they criticized Meta Zuck.

Second, they are up against Rupert Murdoch.

Third, they are up against the false bullying claims by the British Royal Family that has endless tabloids like: OK Magazine, Radar, NYPost, Daily Beast, and now Vanity Fair against the couple.

1. Prince Harry’s immigration status in the U.S., following lawsuits demanding the release of his visa application due to his admitted drug use.
2. Harry and Meghan’s criticism of Meta, which some conservative figures claim is a “political” move that inappropriately uses their royal titles.

Both of these issues highlight a recurring theme in the couple’s post-royal lives: they are still being used as political pawns, media scapegoats, and clickbait magnets for institutions that thrive on public outrage.

But are these controversies legitimate concerns, or just another example of the hypocrisy, double standards, and obsessive scrutiny that has followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since they left the royal family?

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Prince Harry’s U.S. Visa Battle: Privacy vs. Political Targeting

A conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, has been relentlessly pursuing the release of Prince Harry’s immigration records, arguing that he may have lied about his drug use on his U.S. visa application.

Their claim? That Harry, who admitted to using marijuana, cocaine, and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare, should either:

1. Be deported if he was dishonest about his past drug use.
2. Have his visa records released to the public, under the argument that he may have received special treatment from the Biden administration.

However, a U.S. judge ruled that Harry’s immigration records should remain private, stating that there is no compelling public interest that outweighs his right to privacy.

The ruling effectively shut down the Heritage Foundation’s efforts, but they continue to appeal and push for a public release of the records, despite the lack of any concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

A Double Standard in Immigration Scrutiny?

While conservatives are arguing that Harry must have received “special treatment”, the reality is that millions of immigrants with similar histories of past drug use have received visas to the U.S..

• Immigration officials have discretion in making decisions, meaning that drug use does not automatically bar someone from receiving a visa.
• Wealthy and high-profile individuals, like celebrities and foreign dignitaries, often receive expedited or favorable treatment in immigration cases—which is common, but not illegal.
• Other public figures, including Elon Musk, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Donald Trump’s in-laws, have benefited from immigration privileges without facing the same level of scrutiny.

The obsession with Harry’s visa is less about the law and more about political revenge. The Heritage Foundation is closely aligned with Donald Trump, and their campaign to expose Harry is clearly political—especially as Trump himself has previously criticized Harry and Meghan for their comments about the royal family.

This is not about “transparency” or “accountability.” It’s about using Prince Harry as a political tool to attack the Biden administration and distract from more pressing immigration issues.

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The Meta Controversy: Royal Overstep or Justified Criticism?

At the same time, Harry and Meghan have waded into another controversy, this time criticizing Meta for shutting down its fact-checking program.

In a statement published on their Archewell Foundation website, the couple accused Meta of:

• Lacking integrity
• Being “deeply deceptive”
• Prioritizing profit over responsibility, allowing misinformation to thrive

Their statement urged advertisers and users to pressure Meta to restore its fact-checking policies, arguing that its decision has global consequences for media literacy and public safety.

However, this move was immediately attacked by conservative figures, including Nile Gardiner, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, who claimed:

• Harry and Meghan are using their royal titles to push political beliefs, which is against royal protocol.
• Their comments could increase calls for Harry’s deportation, as it further aligns him with left-leaning political causes in the U.S.
• The timing was suspicious, given Meghan recently rejoined Instagram, meaning she is actively benefiting from the platform she is now criticizing.

Gardiner has even stated that he will personally urge Trump to release Harry’s immigration records if the former president returns to office in 2025.

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The Hypocrisy of the Meghan and Harry Backlash

At its core, these controversies—whether about Harry’s visa or their Meta criticism—are not really about legal or ethical concerns. Instead, they are a continuation of the same coordinated media and political attacks that have followed the couple since they left the royal family.

Here’s why the outrage over these issues is hypocritical:

1. British Royals Are Not Politically Neutral

Critics claim that Meghan and Harry are breaking royal protocol by making political statements. But the truth is:

• King Charles has spoken about climate change, interfaith relations, and other political issues for decades.
• Prince William has publicly spoken about Brexit, environmental policies, and social justice issues.
• Queen Elizabeth II reportedly made private comments in favor of the U.K. remaining in the European Union.

The difference? They weren’t criticized because they upheld the monarchy’s traditional image—while Meghan and Harry are punished simply for existing outside of the institution’s control.

2. Meghan Is Punished for Doing What Other Royals Have Always Done

If Meghan had remained silent on social issues, critics would call her irrelevant. But because she speaks out, she is accused of being too political.

• When Kate Middleton attends charity events, she is praised.
• When Meghan Markle does the same, she is accused of self-promotion.

This double standard is rooted in both racism and sexism, as the British tabloid press has a long history of attacking women who do not conform to traditional roles.

3. The Harry Immigration Battle Is a Manufactured Scandal

There is no evidence that Prince Harry lied on his immigration forms. If he did, U.S. immigration officials have already reviewed his case and deemed him eligible to stay in the country.

The only reason this issue is still being pushed is because:

• Harry and Meghan criticized Donald Trump in the past—which made them a target for conservative think tanks like The Heritage Foundation.
• The British press still profits from anti-Meghan and anti-Harry coverage, meaning they have a financial incentive to keep this story alive.
• Far-right media figures want to use Harry’s case to attack Biden’s immigration policies, despite having no real evidence of wrongdoing.

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Final Thoughts: The Never-Ending Obsession with Harry and Meghan

At this point, it is clear that Harry and Meghan will never be able to escape the media’s obsession with them.

• If they speak out, they are accused of seeking attention.
• If they stay silent, they are accused of being irrelevant.
• If they succeed, they are accused of exploiting their royal titles.
• If they struggle, they are mocked for leaving the monarchy.

Meanwhile, the British royal family itself has far bigger scandals to deal with—including allegations against Prince Andrew, recent fake photo controversies, and ongoing questions about King Charles’ leadership.

Yet somehow, the media and conservative political groups remain fixated on Harry and Meghan, trying to manufacture scandals out of a visa that has already been ruled private and a tech company critique that is completely valid.

The truth is simple: Harry and Meghan are far too far down the line of succession to matter—so why does anyone still care?