From Fan Favorite to ‘Almost ‘Last’ — Why Prince Harry’s Popularity Plummeted in the UK
Royal experts break down Prince Harry’s shifting image in the UK.
A lot has changed for Prince Harry since he stepped down from royal duties in 2020. Now living in California, the Duke has attempted to build the Sussex brand through various media ventures, though few have achieved lasting success. He tried to tell his side of the 'Megxit' in his tell-all memoir Spare in 2023; however, that too backfired since it deepened the rift between him and his brother Prince William, who remains estranged till today. The infamous Oprah interview made things collectively worse for the ex-royals with the monarchy, triggering ongoing legal challenges over their UK security arrangements. All this contributed to a negative media campaign against the Duke, which in turn affected his popularity among the British masses.
HELLO!'s senior editor Jack Malvern weighed in on the issue while appearing on A Right Royal Podcast and explained that Harry's popularity has significantly declined from being one of the "joint most popular members of the royal family" in 2017, alongside Prince William, to "almost last," trailing only his wife Meghan Markle and his disgraced uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. "That fall has been catastrophic for him. And it didn't necessarily happen in the way you might think," Malvern noted. He highlighted how Harry once enjoyed a massive following as a working royal, loved for his outgoing personality and seen as an approachable contrast to his media-shy brother. However, after 'Megxit,' the polarization of opinion was evident, and royal fans no longer wanted to side with someone who had caused rifts in the royal family.
"From Harry's point of view, he just wants to set out his side of the story. But it hasn't been welcome in Britain amongst the British public," Malvern stated. Meanwhile, royal expert Emily Nash noted that while the Duke's recent UK visit felt like an emotional success, it barely made an impact overall. She pointed out that though he tried to showcase his softer side while appearing on the James Corden show on Fox and Joe Marler's podcast, it wasn't able to whitewash his public image completely. "It's not really touching the sides at the moment," she concluded. Despite this, Harry has been building on the positive aspect of reuniting with his father, King Charles. After being able to hold an audience with the monarch last month in private, the Duke has extended an invitation to his father to join him during next year's Invictus Games. The King has also showcased his benevolent side by arranging residence for his younger son at Buckingham for his next visit.
While things might be thawing between the King and Prince Harry, Prince William remains unconvinced about his younger brother's motives, believing Harry might once again tarnish the image of the royal family with his future media interactions. Meanwhile, the Duke continues to assert his presence within the royal fold. "I will always be part of the royal family," Harry replied during an ITV interview when confronted with the prospect of being a non-working royal. "I am here working, doing the things that I was born to do," he concluded.
