Royals no more! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s changing public image revealed in new poll

The royal ties that once defined Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now appear more tenuous than ever after a recent poll found that the public now sees the pair more as celebrities than royals.

The change in public opinion was highlighted in a recent Ipsos poll, which examined British attitudes towards the Royal Family.

Among the findings, six in ten (60 per cent) believe that Meghan is more of a celebrity than a royal, while four in ten (40 per cent) say the same about Harry. Just 21 per cent still consider him a royal.

In what should come as little surprise, the poll also found that the Prince and Princess of Wales remain the most popular members of the Royal Family with 64 per cent holding a favourable view of the Prince of Wales and 62 per cent approving of the Princess of Wales.

Princess Anne followed closely behind with a 56 per cent positive rating.

Half of Britons (52 per cent) believe King Charles is doing a good job, with only 14 per cent expressing a negative view.

Confidence in Prince William as a future king remains strong, with 67 per cent believing he would perform well as Monarch.

Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos provided further insight into the findings.

“Our latest polling on the Royal Family shows the different aspects of public opinion,” Skinner said.

“The consistently high approval ratings for the Prince and Princess of Wales will undoubtedly be viewed as positive by those in the palace’s orbit, the majority continue to think King Charles is doing a good job, and those who actively want to abolish the monarchy are a minority.

“However, the persistent negativity towards the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, coupled with the generational divide in views on the monarchy’s value, presents a clear challenge for the institution. The data continues to suggest a need for the Royal Family to navigate carefully the evolving expectations of the British public, particularly amongst younger generations, in order to secure the institution’s future.”

The public’s perception of Harry and Meghan comes as the pair find themselves increasingly estranged from The Firm since stepping away from their royal duties in 2020. 

The decision marked a major shift in the traditional dynamics of the Monarchy, the move driven by a desire for a more independent and private life, free from the intense media scrutiny that had been a constant presence in their lives.