Prince Harry US visa lawsuit 'terminated' in bombshell case update

The legal challenge concerning Prince Harry's visa status in the US has been dropped , according to reports. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, had initiated a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to force the release of the Duke of Sussex's visa records.

This action followed revelations in his memoir "Spare" about past drug use by the royal, who now resides in California . The group argued that Harry's admission should have prevented him from obtaining permission to live and work in the States.

Yet, according to court documents, the lawsuit was dismissed on September 9, with several sealed orders entered into the record by Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington DC , as per Newsweek.

• Harry and Meghan 'plan third faux Royal tour this year' after Colombia and Nigeria trips

• Harry and Meghan 'aligning with two royals' in devastating blow for William and Kate

Details surrounding the termination of the case are scarce, leaving questions about whether Prince Harry's visa information will remain confidential. Newsweek has suggested that disclosing the documents would constitute an "unwarranted invasion of Prince Harry's privacy", reports the Express .

Heritage lawyers have previously stated: "[The case] comes about in the main because HRH [His Royal Highness] voluntarily-and for immense profit-admitted in writing to the elements of any number of controlled substance violations. (Indeed, some say HRH has approached the point of bragging and encouraging illegal drug use.)

"The Duke of Sussex did so despite the fact that it is widely known that such admissions can have adverse immigration consequences for non-citizens and despite employing preeminent legal advisors on both sides of the Atlantic."

Harry's revelation of his past use of drugs like cocaine and marijuana was laid bare in his explosive memoir, 'Spare,' last year. The prince, who is set to mark his 40th birthday later this week, acknowledged indulging in these substances as a youth and also as an adult; both are classed as illegal within UK boundaries.

Within the pages of 'Spare,' Harry recounts his experience with magic mushrooms while visiting California in 2016.

Detailing his experiences with cocaine during his younger years, Harry wrote: "Of course...I had been doing cocaine around this time. At someone's country house, during a shooting weekend, I'd been offered a line, and I'd done a few more since. It wasn't much fun, and it didn't make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the main goal."

He further reflected in 'Spare': "Psychedelics did me some good as well. I'd experimented with them over the years, for fun, but now I'd begun to use them therapeutically, medicinally. They didn't simply allow me to escape reality for a while, they let me redefine reality."

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .