Meghan Markle, known as the Duchess of Sussex, has encountered a significant setback as her bid for a UK visa has been turned down by British immigration authorities.
The former actress, who relocated to California with her spouse Prince Harry in 2020, had submitted an application for a family visa to visit the UK and reconnect with Harry’s relatives.
Regrettably, her request was dismissed due to failure to meet the qualifying criteria and allegations of misrepresentation regarding her qualifications and intentions.
The news of Meghan’s visa denial emerged shortly after Harry faced a legal defeat against the government concerning the extent of his security coverage.
During his visit to the UK, Harry took legal action against the Home Office following the reduction of his security status and the withdrawal of police protection.
Despite asserting his entitlement to security equivalent to other royal family members post his decision to step back as a senior royal, the court ruled in favor of the government, emphasizing the lawful and equitable nature of their actions in determining Harry’s security measures on a case-by-case basis.
Meghan, who had aspirations of accompanying Harry on his UK visits, was taken aback and incensed by the court’s ruling.
She accused the government of bias against herself and Harry, insinuating deliberate efforts to undermine their ties with the royal family.
Asserting her right to entry into the UK as Harry’s spouse and the mother of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Meghan contended that she adhered to all stipulated regulations and processes for the family visa application, furnishing requisite documentation to substantiate her identity, earnings, and relationship with Harry.
However, UK immigration officials remained unconvinced by Meghan’s assertions, identifying numerous inconsistencies and irregularities in her submission, casting doubt on the veracity of certain details.
They questioned her motivations and sincerity, expressing skepticism about her intentions to establish permanent residency with Harry in the UK.
Noteworthy was Meghan’s retention of US citizenship, alongside a lucrative collaboration with Netflix for content production, coupled with her absence from the UK since March 2020 and nonattendance at key royal events.
The visa refusal was compounded by Meghan’s past track record of dishonesty and deceit, as highlighted by the immigration authorities.
Reference was made to the revelation of falsehoods in Meghan’s claim of composing a letter to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, which surfaced through messages exchanged between Meghan, Harry, and their former communications secretary, Jason Knopf.
This disclosure complicated Meghan’s legal battle against a newspaper for privacy and copyright infringement, underscoring doubts surrounding her credibility.
Additionally, the immigration officials cited Meghan’s contentious interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she leveled accusations against the royal family and British media, some of which were subsequently debunked or exaggerated.
Meghan received notification of the visa rejection via email, granting her a 28-day window to appeal or exit the country.
Overwhelmed with emotion upon reading the email, Meghan felt betrayed and humiliated by the UK government, prompting her to implore Harry for assistance.
Despite Harry’s expression of regret and continued support, he acknowledged the legal constraints, suggesting alternative meeting venues and potential visa reapplication endeavors for the future.