Meghan Markle’s Popularity Just Hit a New Low Ahead of Her Potential Return to The UK
New YouGov figures reveal deep public skepticism.
Meghan Markle’s standing with the British public has hit a new low, and the timing could not be worse. Just as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to be edging closer to a possible UK visit later this year, new polling suggests Markle is now less popular in Britain than at any point since she stepped back from royal life.
According to a new YouGov survey, just 19 percent of Britons say they like Meghan, while 66 percent hold an unfavorable view. It is her lowest approval rating to date and leaves her with a net score of minus 47. The poll was conducted between January 8 and 9 among a representative sample of 2,103 UK adults.
The numbers mark a sharp fall from where Markle once stood. During her early years as a working royal, she enjoyed approval ratings of around 55 percent. That goodwill began to drain after Harry and Markle quit royal duties in 2020 and accelerated following their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they openly criticised the monarchy. Since then, public opinion has steadily hardened, and the latest figures suggest it has now settled firmly against her.
This shift comes at a delicate moment for the Sussexes. Prince Harry has spent much of the past six months trying to rebuild bridges with the British public. He returned to the UK in September to visit charities he supports and followed it up in November with a warmly worded essay titled “The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it means to be British.” The piece was widely read as an attempt to reframe his relationship with Britain.
Harry is currently in London for a High Court case against the Daily Mail, alleging phone hacking and other unlawful information-gathering — claims the newspaper strongly denies. Beyond the courtroom, there is also a longer-term reason for Harry to maintain a presence in the UK. Birmingham will host the Invictus Games in 2027, and Harry typically makes a promotional visit to the host country a year ahead of the event. Markle attended similar trips in Germany and Canada, making a joint UK visit this summer a realistic possibility, though nothing has been officially announced.
Whether Markle would choose to travel may depend on Harry’s ongoing legal fight to restore his UK police protection. He is seeking a fresh threat assessment following a review conducted by the British government over December and January. The outcome of that case could play a key role in shaping any plans.
Similarly, Harry’s standing in the US has also taken a noticeable hit, according to YouGov Ratings’ latest quarterly data, pointing to a broader cooling of interest in the Sussexes. The poll shows Harry’s popularity fell by 14 points over the course of 2025, leaving him liked by 38 percent of Americans and disliked by 23 percent, for a net approval rating of plus 17. At the start of the year, his score stood at a much healthier plus 31, suggesting a steady decline rather than a short-lived dip. While Harry’s net rating has dipped lower before, this marks the weakest level of active support he has recorded since tracking began in 2020.
