A lawsuit over Prince Harry's US visa has been terminated, bringing an end to months of speculation over his right to live in the States.
The prince had faced a court challenge over his visa from right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation over his admissions of drug use in his controversial memoir, Spare.
It emerged overnight that the case, heard in a Washington DC court by judge Carl J Nichols, had come to an end - but questions linger over Nichols's verdict with the ruling having been sealed.
Harry's memoir had included a slew of references to the prince's drug-taking in the past - including substances like cocaine and "magic mushrooms" - prompting Heritage to file a Freedom of Information Act case against the US Department of Homeland Security.
The think tank argued Harry's substance use should have ruled out his controversial move to the US
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The think tank had pushed for the department to make the prince's visa documents public, arguing that his substance use should have ruled out his controversial move to the US.
But American outlet Newsweek revealed that case was terminated when "several sealed orders were filed" - provoking outrage from Heritage.
Kyle Brosnan, chief counsel for The Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project, told Newsweek: "Prince Harry repeatedly admitted to using illegal drugs in his memoir... This fact alone makes him inadmissible into the United States.
"We sued to get answers to a simple question of whether the government gave Prince Harry preferential treatment when he entered the country.
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The Heritage Foundation have expressed their fury with the case's hidden conclusion
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"It appears the judge has ruled and that ruling is under seal. We know nothing about how the judge ruled.
"No one should read into the order, or the fact that it is under seal. We have always said this case is unique and opinions can be initially sealed in such cases. We will continue to monitor the situation."
It's understood that the think tank had alleged that the Duke of Sussex had either been dishonest about his drug use or been handed preferential treatment by US officials thanks to his royal status.
Heritage's lawyers had written: "[The case] comes about in the main because HRH 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."
Prince Harry's case came to an end
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In return, US Government lawyers had argued that they "cannot confirm or deny whether any other records that [Heritage] are seeking exist, because the mere acknowledgment of these records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harry's privacy.
"The records are particularly sensitive because releasing them, even in part, would reveal Prince Harry's status in the United States, which Prince Harry has not disclosed.
"Specifically, the records would reveal the types of documents that Prince Harry used to travel to the United States, his admission status, and any immigration, or non-immigration, benefits that he may have sought.
"Courts consistently hold that a person's visa or immigration status is private, personal information exempt from disclosure."
US officials have argued revealing any documents about Prince Harry's visa status would infringe on his privacy
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Amid the legal furore, Newsweek also revealed that the judge had requested to see the prince's visa records in private - and in April, US officials confirmed they had complied with the order.
GB News has approached the Sussexes' representatives for comment.