A new royal popularity poll has delivered an
uncomfortable picture for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, suggesting that
winning back public confidence in Britain may be a considerably harder task
than simply returning to the country.
The latest figures from YouGov's Royal Family
favourability survey, conducted on October 22 and 23, show that both the Duke
and Duchess of Sussex continue to face more negative than positive public
opinion. Meghan's results are particularly striking, with only 20% of respondents
expressing a favourable view of her, compared with 68% who said they viewed her
unfavourably.
Harry's figures were also challenging. The survey
found that 29% of respondents had a positive opinion of him, while 60%
expressed a negative opinion.
The numbers provide a fresh snapshot of the couple's
standing among the British public and raise questions about whether their
recent efforts to reconnect with the UK are changing perceptions.
Their public appearances have attracted attention,
including a visit to Nottingham earlier this month that featured a
walkabout-style engagement. Such appearances can generate headlines and provide
opportunities for direct contact with members of the public, but they do not
necessarily translate into an immediate improvement in popularity.
The poll also highlights a striking contrast within
the royal family. Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, remain among
the most popular senior royals, with approval figures substantially higher than
those recorded for Harry and Meghan.
For the Sussexes, the challenge is not simply
returning to Britain. It is rebuilding a relationship with an audience whose
views have become increasingly divided over the years.
Meghan Markle's Latest Popularity
Figures Raise Questions
Harry and Meghan live back in the UK now (Image:
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The most eye-catching result in the latest survey
concerns Meghan.
According to the reported YouGov figures, 68% of
respondents held an unfavourable opinion of the Duchess of Sussex, while just
20% viewed her positively.
That represents a difficult position for a public
figure whose activities continue to attract international attention.
Meghan's public profile has changed considerably
since she married Harry in 2018. Her transition from actress to senior working
royal brought worldwide recognition, but her departure from royal duties in
2020 also placed her at the centre of a prolonged debate about the monarchy,
media coverage and the responsibilities of royal life.
Since moving to the United States, Meghan has pursued
projects involving television, lifestyle content, business and public
appearances. These ventures have provided opportunities to establish an
independent professional identity, but they have also kept her under intense
public scrutiny.
The latest poll suggests that her popularity among
British respondents remains a significant challenge.
However, favourability figures should be interpreted
carefully. They represent the opinions of people surveyed at a particular
moment, not a permanent verdict on a person's reputation.
Public attitudes can change in response to new
events, interviews, personal appearances and wider developments involving the
royal family.
The important question is whether Meghan's future
activities will gradually improve the way she is perceived or reinforce
existing criticism.
Prince Harry Faces a Similar
Public Opinion Challenge
Harry's figures also suggest that his relationship
with the British public remains complicated.
The survey found that 60% of respondents viewed the
Duke of Sussex unfavourably, while 29% expressed a positive opinion.
Although his figures were somewhat stronger than
Meghan's, they still show a substantial gap between favourable and unfavourable
views.
Harry's public image has been shaped by several major
developments, including his decision to step back from royal duties, his
interviews about family disagreements and the publication of his memoir, Spare.
For some supporters, those decisions represented an
attempt to explain his experiences and protect his family's independence.
For critics, the repeated public discussion of
private royal matters damaged confidence and made reconciliation more
difficult.
That disagreement has become one of the defining
features of Harry's relationship with the British public.
His recent comments expressing a desire to repair relationships
with his family have reopened discussion about whether the royal rift could
eventually be resolved.
But the latest poll suggests that public opinion
remains far from uniformly supportive.
Even if Harry were to improve his private
relationship with his relatives, that would not automatically produce a similar
change in public favourability.
The two issues are connected, but they are not
identical.
William and Catherine Continue to
Dominate the Popularity Rankings
The contrast with William and Catherine is
particularly noticeable.
The latest survey reportedly found that 74% of
respondents viewed Prince William positively, while 72% expressed a favourable
opinion of Catherine.
Those results placed the Prince and Princess of Wales
at the top of the reported royal popularity rankings.
Princess Anne also performed strongly, taking third
place.
The figures highlight the difference between the
public standing of the senior working royals and that of the Sussexes.
William and Catherine have maintained a prominent
position within the monarchy while continuing to undertake official engagements
and represent the institution at home and abroad.
Their public image has also been shaped by their
family life, charitable work and the way they have handled periods of intense
personal and professional attention.
Catherine's health challenges have brought particular
public interest and expressions of support in recent years, while William's
role as heir to the throne keeps him at the centre of discussions about the
monarchy's future.
Nevertheless, popularity surveys measure public
sentiment rather than the effectiveness of royal duties.
A high favourability rating does not automatically
establish how well a royal performs every responsibility, just as a low rating
does not reveal the full reasons behind an individual's public reputation.
What the figures do demonstrate is that William and
Catherine currently enjoy a considerably stronger position in the reported
survey than Harry and Meghan.
What the Poll Says About the
Future of the British Monarchy
The survey also examined attitudes towards the
institution itself.
According to the reported results, 64% of respondents
believed Britain should continue to have a monarchy, while 25% preferred an
elected head of state.
This suggests that support for the constitutional
monarchy remains stronger than support for replacing it, despite continuing
public debate about the royal family's role and relevance.
The distinction is important.
People can hold negative opinions about individual
members of the royal family while still supporting the monarchy as an
institution.
Equally, someone may favour particular royals without
agreeing with every aspect of the institution they represent.
The figures therefore offer two separate insights:
how respondents feel about individual royal figures and whether they believe
the country should retain its current constitutional arrangement.
For the monarchy, the results suggest that there is
still a substantial base of public support.
But maintaining that support will depend on more than
popularity rankings. The institution must continue demonstrating relevance,
public service and an ability to adapt to changing expectations.
Could Harry and Meghan's UK
Appearances Change Public Opinion?
Harry and Meghan's recent public activities in
Britain have prompted questions about whether the couple are attempting to
rebuild their relationship with the country.
Their Nottingham appearance earlier this month
attracted attention because of its public-facing format and the interest
surrounding their return.
A walkabout can create an opportunity for members of
the public to interact directly with well-known figures. It can also generate
photographs and positive headlines when the reception is enthusiastic.
But one appearance is unlikely to transform years of
established public opinion.
Rebuilding a reputation usually requires consistency.
People may need to see a sustained pattern of behaviour before changing
opinions formed through years of news coverage, interviews and public
disagreements.
For Harry and Meghan, that process could be
particularly complicated because their public identities are connected to a
wider dispute involving the royal family.
Any attempt to improve their standing may therefore
be judged not only on the work they undertake but also on how they address the
history of their departure from royal life.
The poll does not establish whether their recent
appearances have improved or damaged their popularity. It provides a snapshot
of public opinion during the survey period.
Future surveys will be needed to determine whether
the couple's approach is producing a measurable change.
Why the Royal Popularity Gap
Matters
The difference between the Sussexes and the Prince
and Princess of Wales has become an important part of the wider royal
conversation.
William is the heir to the throne, while Catherine is
expected to become queen consort when he eventually becomes king.
Their public standing therefore matters not only to
the monarchy today but also to its long-term future.
Harry, meanwhile, remains a son of the King and a
member of the wider royal family, despite no longer undertaking official
working royal duties.
The brothers' relationship has attracted attention
because their personal disagreements have become intertwined with questions
about the monarchy's public image.
A continuing popularity gap can reinforce the
perception that the two branches of the family occupy very different positions
in the public mind.
However, it would be misleading to suggest that a
poll alone determines the future influence or significance of either couple.
Public opinion is only one factor among many, and the
royal family's position is shaped by constitutional responsibilities, official
duties and individual decisions.
Still, the figures provide a useful indication of the
current atmosphere surrounding the family.
The Thomas Markle Controversy Adds
Another Difficult Dimension
The popularity survey has emerged alongside another
troubling story involving Meghan's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr.
Reports have alleged that material involving child
sexual abuse images was discovered among boxes at a former property in the
Philippines associated with him.
The allegations have been strongly denied by Thomas
Markle Sr., who reportedly described them as “sick lies”.
The circumstances surrounding the reported discovery
and the allegations remain contested. They should not be treated as established
criminal findings, and no conclusion about guilt can be drawn simply from the
existence of an accusation.
According to the supplied reports, Thomas Markle Jr.
was involved in the discovery, which has added another layer of attention to an
already complicated family situation.
Meghan has reportedly described the allegations as
distressing.
The story has attracted attention partly because of
the longstanding estrangement between Meghan and her father. Their relationship
became a major subject of public discussion before and after her marriage to
Harry.
However, it is important to distinguish between the
allegations involving Thomas Markle Sr. and Meghan's own actions or
responsibilities.
An accusation against a relative does not establish
wrongdoing by another member of the family.
The reported controversy may add to the difficult
news environment surrounding the Sussexes, but it should not be used as
evidence of anything about Meghan's personal conduct.
Why Meghan's Response Is Likely to
Attract Attention
Whenever a controversy involves a member of Meghan's
family, questions about whether she will comment are likely to follow.
Her reported description of the allegations as
distressing indicates that the matter has affected her, but there is no
confirmed basis for assuming she intends to make further public statements.
The Duchess has often faced pressure to respond to
stories involving her relatives, public reputation and relationship with the
royal family.
Yet remaining silent on a sensitive family matter
does not necessarily indicate indifference or agreement with allegations.
There may be personal, legal or practical reasons for
limiting public comment.
For the media, the challenge is to report the developments
without treating unverified allegations as established facts or confusing a
relative's situation with Meghan's own conduct.
That distinction is especially important when the
story involves serious allegations concerning children.
Can Harry and Meghan Rebuild Their
British Public Image?
The latest poll raises an uncomfortable question for
the Sussexes: what would it take to change the public perception reflected in
the figures?
There is no single answer.
A sustained programme of charitable work, meaningful
public engagement and fewer highly publicized family disputes could influence
how some people view the couple.
Their professional projects may also shape
perceptions, particularly if audiences begin to associate them with successful
initiatives rather than continuing royal controversy.
However, the couple face a difficult balancing act.
Harry has spoken publicly about his experiences and
his desire for family reconciliation. Meghan has pursued an independent career
while continuing to attract considerable attention as a former senior royal.
Both approaches can generate support among some
audiences and criticism among others.
The latest survey suggests that their challenge in
Britain remains substantial, but it does not establish that their popularity cannot
improve.
Public opinion is not fixed.
What the Figures Could Mean for
the Royal Family's Next Chapter
The reported results offer a snapshot of a monarchy
navigating different levels of public support for its members.
William and Catherine appear to enjoy strong
favourability, while Princess Anne remains highly regarded. Harry and Meghan
continue to face a more difficult relationship with British public opinion.
At the same time, the overall support for retaining
the monarchy suggests that many respondents remain comfortable with the
institution, even when individual royals attract criticism.
That creates an interesting situation for the next
generation of royal leadership.
William and Catherine will eventually carry greater
constitutional and public responsibilities. Their current popularity could
provide a useful foundation, although maintaining it will require continued
public confidence.
Harry's position is different. His future
relationship with the monarchy may depend more on personal decisions and whether
private family relationships can improve.
For Meghan, the challenge is establishing a public
identity that can stand independently of the continuing debate over her royal
past.
Neither outcome can be predicted from a single
survey.
A Difficult Poll, but Not the
Final Word
The latest YouGov figures present a challenging
picture for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
With reported unfavourable ratings of 60% for Harry
and 68% for Meghan, the couple remain less popular among respondents than
several senior members of the royal family.
William and Catherine's stronger figures underline
the contrast, while the wider results suggest that support for the monarchy
itself remains relatively firm.
The timing is notable because Harry and Meghan have
recently attracted renewed attention through their activities in Britain and
their continuing public projects.
Yet the poll does not prove that their efforts have
failed permanently, nor does it reveal exactly why individual respondents hold
the views they do.
It is a measure of public sentiment at one particular
moment.
For the Sussexes, the bigger challenge may be
demonstrating that their future actions can gradually change a public narrative
shaped by years of disagreement, media scrutiny and royal controversy.
And for the monarchy, the results offer another
reminder that public support for the institution and public affection for
individual members of the family are two very different things.
The next round of polling may reveal whether the gap
is narrowing—or whether the divide between the Sussexes and the most popular
royals remains just as wide.
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