Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first joint UK outing since their return might have drawn a small crowd of well-wishers, but the sentiment sadly isn’t like that overall.
While the Duchess is currently back in the US, a new YouGov poll shows that the Sussexes remain deeply unpopular with many Britons, even amid their extended UK return.
Key Takeaways
- Harry and Meghan’s UK popularity has declined since July
- Only 29% of Britons hold a positive opinion of Harry
- Meghan’s net favourability rating has fallen to a record low of -48
- The October survey included 2,116 adults in Great Britain
- Future polling will reveal whether public sentiment changes
New Poll Shows The British Are Nearly Of One Mind Regarding The Sussexes
After six years of living abroad, I’m sure that Harry and Meghan might have thought their return would have stirred some public goodwill towards them.
But apart from the endless media circus, nothing else seemed to be going their way.
First, Buckingham Palace reaffirmed that Harry and Meghan’s charitable activities are undertaken in a private capacity rather than as working royals.
Now, questions have also been raised about Meghan’s security arrangements during her reported trip to Australia to film the rebooted Junior MasterChef.
In the midst of this, it has been revealed that their popularity ratings in the UK have taken another nosedive since the summer, and it wasn’t like they were in such a good place before.
According to YouGov’s royal family favourability tracker, released on October 29, only 29% of Britons have a positive opinion of Harry, down four percentage points since July.
Meanwhile, 60% hold a negative opinion of the Duke of Sussex, bringing his net favourability rating to -31.
As for his wife, she’s actually faring worse than Harry when it comes to overall public opinion.
Only 20% of Britons have a positive opinion of Meghan, while 68% view her negatively.
Her net favourability rating has fallen to -48, the lowest recorded for Meghan in YouGov’s tracker to date.
And while Harry’s positive rating dropped four points, Meghan’s negative rating rose three points since the summer.
Will Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Popularity Recover?
Since the poll was conducted on October 22-23, no one knows how public sentiment might change following the recent controversy involving the Duchess’s estranged father.
The allegations surrounding Thomas Markle have attracted considerable attention, but they remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts.
Some royal commentators have suggested that the family controversy could generate sympathy for Meghan, although there’s no way to know whether that will translate into improved popularity ratings.
And with Harry and Meghan already facing criticism over their return to the UK, the timing certainly hasn’t helped their public image.
For now, all we can do is wait for YouGov’s next update to see whether the Sussexes can reverse their declining numbers.
Editor’s Take
I have to wonder whether Harry and Meghan expected a warmer reception after spending six years away from Britain. Their public appearances certainly generated headlines, but the latest polling suggests that attention hasn’t translated into greater public support.
And Meghan’s numbers are particularly difficult to ignore. A net favourability rating of -48 is hardly the welcome she might have hoped for.
Still, I wouldn’t assume the numbers will stay this way forever. Public opinion can change, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the Sussexes can win over some of their critics in the months ahead.
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