Quick Read
- King Charles III holds a net approval rating of plus 29 in the UK, liked by 60 percent of adults.
- Meghan Markle’s net approval rating is minus 47 in the UK, with 19 percent liking her and 66 percent disliking her.
- Meghan Markle never achieved 60 percent popularity in the UK, peaking at 55 percent in October 2019.
- Prince Harry reportedly seeks reconciliation with King Charles amid his ongoing legal actions.
- King Charles is said to have influenced Donald Trump’s recent comments on NATO troops.
LONDON (Azat TV) – New polling data released this month reveals that King Charles III consistently maintains a significantly higher approval rating among the British public than Meghan Markle, even at the peak of her popularity. The findings from YouGov challenge prevailing narratives about the public’s reception of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex compared to the working monarchy, coming amidst ongoing reports of Prince Harry’s desire for reconciliation with his father and recent legal proceedings involving the couple.
New Polling Underscores Royal Popularity Divide
The YouGov poll, conducted across January 8 and 9, surveyed 2,103 UK adults and showed King Charles III with a net approval rating of plus 29, liked by 60 percent and disliked by 31 percent. This figure is broadly consistent with his standing throughout his reign, which began three years ago, though he reached a peak popularity of 70 percent in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a period of widespread public sympathy. According to Newsweek, King Charles’s lowest recorded support during his reign was 59 percent in April 2023, consistently outperforming Meghan Markle’s peak.
In contrast, Meghan Markle registered a net rating of minus 47 in the latest poll, with only 19 percent liking her and 66 percent disliking her. Newsweek noted that Meghan Markle has never achieved a 60 percent approval rating among the British public, reaching her highest point in the UK at 55 percent in October 2019. Even her highest recorded popularity in America, 67 percent during her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, remained below King Charles’s UK peak of 70 percent in 2022. The data highlights that even during what the British press dubbed “Meghan Mania” in 2017 and 2018, her British fan base was smaller in number than King Charles’s current support.
Continuing Tensions and Reconciliation Efforts
The persistent public sentiment comes as Prince Harry continues to reportedly seek reconciliation with King Charles. Royal commentators have suggested a “significant motivator” behind Prince Harry’s efforts to meet with his father, following a visit to the UK last September and a public expression of his wish to reconcile in a May BBC interview, as reported by The Express. These dynamics unfold alongside recent public engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, including their first joint appearance of 2026 just days after Prince Harry attended London’s High Court for a trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail regarding allegations of unlawful information gathering.
Furthermore, The Express also reported that Meghan Markle allegedly sent a letter to King Charles, seeking clarification on why “different rules” appeared to apply to her and Prince Harry compared to other members of the Royal Family, before their departure from royal duties in 2020. Prince Harry himself suggested in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that negative stories about Meghan began appearing after the family witnessed “how incredible she is at the job,” implying jealousy over her ability to “steal the limelight.”
Beyond Popularity: King Charles’s Engagements
Beyond the realm of public opinion and family dynamics, King Charles III remains actively engaged in his duties. This month, he is likely celebrating Burns Night, Scotland’s national holiday, a tradition he has observed in previous years by toasting the Scottish people and reciting poetry, according to People magazine. His engagement extends to international affairs, with claims suggesting King Charles was “behind” a recent U-turn by US President Donald Trump on his controversial comments about NATO. Sources cited by The Express indicated that President Trump, after becoming aware of the King’s concerns, praised British troops for their “tremendous heart and soul,” following earlier remarks that allied troops “stayed a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan.
The consistent polling data suggests that while media attention often focuses on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, traditional royal figures like King Charles III maintain a robust and enduring connection with the British public. This divergence between media prominence and direct popularity underscores the complexity of public perception, indicating that high visibility, whether positive or negative, does not always equate to widespread approval or a deeper bond with the populace.