Experts Claim Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have Been ‘Damaging’ to King Charles’ Reputation
King Charles’ popularity has dipped to the lowest point of his reign. While there are likely plenty of contributing factors, some royal commentators believe they know who’s to blame. They think the Sussexes and their return to the United Kingdom are behind the latest drop in his rating. The experts argue that King Charles’ reputation has been damaged by the rift and his stance on it.
Insiders believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have damaged the king’s reputation
King Charles has battled significant health problems and family scandals since taking the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Those challenges, however, didn’t sink his popularity. Still, King Charles’ reputation has taken a nosedive lately. Richard Eden, diary editor at the Daily Mail, linked the recent drop to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the U.K. in late August.
“I think the King’s ratings are suffering because of Harry and Meghan’s return,” Eden said on the Palace Confidential podcast. “I’m sorry, I know this might not be a popular thing to say in some quarters, but I think they have damaged his reputation. That’s because he hasn’t dealt with the issue.”
Eden went further, suggesting the King could improve his standing by taking a hard line. “In my opinion, his popularity would be boosted if he took action to strip Harry and Meghan of their titles,” he said.
The commentary comes in response to YouGov’s latest royal favourability tracker. According to the survey, conducted Oct. 22 and 23, 58% of Britons have a positive opinion of the King. That’s down four points since the summer and the lowest level since he took the throne in 2022. His net favorability of +24 is also a reign-low.
The Sussexes aren’t doing any better in the polls
The King isn’t the only royal dealing with a drop in favorability in recent months. Harry and Meghan’s ratings have fallen, too. Prince Harry’s positive rating dropped four points to 29%, while just 20% of Britons view Meghan favorably. 68% of respondents view her negatively. Her net rating of -48 is the lowest she’s ever received.
Since returning to the United Kingdom, the couple has made a series of charity visits that critics have described as “quasi-royal” engagements. The palace has confirmed they remain non-working members of the royal family, with their charitable activities conducted privately. Those appearances appear to have done little to improve their image with the British public, though Meghan has long struggled to win over U.K. audiences. Prince Harry was once seen much more favorably.
Contributing factors are not recorded by the tracker
While some royal commentators are pointing the finger at Harry and Meghan, not everyone is convinced the Sussexes are to blame. The YouGov figures show a decline in the King’s popularity, but they don’t identify what caused it, and the poll itself doesn’t establish a link to Harry and Meghan. Critics are largely pointing to the timing of the couple’s return as evidence of a connection, though it’s a loose one.
The King has reportedly remained confident in his approach to family matters. Broader support for the monarchy has also held steady, with a clear majority of Britons still in favor of keeping it. Buckingham Palace has not publicly addressed the poll.
