Harry & Meghan’s Hollywood Dreams Take a Hit in New Poll — But William and Kate Would Be Happy

Catherine, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool)

Feb. 25 2026, Published 03:30 AM. ET

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly facing a brutal blow to their Hollywood aspirations. While they escalate their efforts to emerge as global power players, a new poll has excluded them from the list of the world’s most talked-about couples. On the other hand, Prince William and Princess Kate have made it to the top five, thus proving that despite the ongoing controversies surrounding the monarchy, the Prince and Princess of Wales remain quite popular among the masses.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Westminster Hall in London, United Kingdom. (Image Source: Getty Images | Emilio Morenatti - WPA Pool) — Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Westminster Hall in London. (Image Source: Getty Images | Emilio Morenatti - WPA Pool)

The data, compiled by digital entertainment platform JB.com, reported by the Express, analyzed public opinion through Google Search Volume, Instagram hashtags, and total media coverage, presenting a result that was definitely not what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were hoping for. Despite moving to Montecito and establishing their own lifestyle portfolio, it seems like the ‘Sussex brand’ is losing its shine, with major limelight now shifting towards the Prince and Princess of Wales, who’ve secured the third spot on the list, commanding the same online influence as Hollywood's biggest A-listers.

As per the poll, the couple boasts a massive 142,000 Instagram posts dedicated solely to their marriage. And much to the benefit of the Firm, given the controversies around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the coverage surrounding the Waleses remains overwhelmingly positive, with over 51.8 million articles. This stands in sharp contrast to the media storm and scrutiny that follow the Sussexes at every move.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the wheelchair basketball match between the USA and Nigeria during day one of the 2025 Invictus Games at the Vancouver Convention Centre. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Karwai Tang) — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attend the wheelchair basketball match between the USA and Nigeria during day one of the 2025 Invictus Games at the Vancouver Convention Centre. (Image Source: Getty Images | Karwai Tang)

While the Prince and Princess of Wales took third place, the top rankings were heavily dominated by entertainment and political figures, with Donald and Melania Trump claiming the first spot, racking up a staggering 38.5 million social media posts. Even former couples and long-retired politicians made the cut. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, despite their 2024 divorce, took second place with about 28.6 million queries each month, establishing them as the internet’s most searched pair. Just after William and Kate, former US president and first lady Barack Obama and Michelle Obama landed at number four with more than 4 million fans looking them up online each month. Beyonce and Jay-Z rounded out the top 5 with 447,000 posts tagged for their relationship on Instagram.

Princess Kate and Prince William view items on display relating to Germany, during a visit to the Royal Collection exhibition in the Green Drawing Room. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Hannah McKay - Pool) — Princess Kate and Prince William view items on display relating to Germany, during a visit to the Royal Collection exhibition in the Green Drawing Room. (Image Source: Getty Images | Hannah McKay - Pool)

The poll is likely humiliating for Harry and Markle, given that the rest of the top ten includes couples with whom the couple has allegedly had a falling out. For instance, David and Victoria Beckham – who even attended the Duke and Duchess’s 2018 royal wedding – allegedly distanced themselves after the Prince accused the Spice Girls singer of ‘selling stories.’ Similarly, Amal and George Clooney have also drifted apart from the pair, with the actor stating that his interactions with the couple were minimal at best.

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex struggle to maintain their relevance in Tinseltown, William and Kate’s steady rise suggests they may be winning the popularity war after all.