Prince Harry Suffers Dramatic Popularity Reversal As Public Opinion Takes Fresh Turn

Prince Harry has suffered a dramatic reversal in public opinion, falling from one of the Royal Family’s most popular members to a figure now positioned near the bottom of royal popularity rankings, according to analysis of polling data discussed by HELLO! senior editor Jack Malvern.

Harry’s decline, however, cannot be explained by one interview or revelation alone. Malvern believes the Duke’s changing public image developed through a series of highly publicised moments that gradually altered how he was viewed in Britain.

Speaking to royal editor Emily Nash on A Right Royal Podcast, Malvern examined polling from the past decade to highlight just how dramatically Harry’s standing has changed. The contrast with 2017 is particularly striking. At the time, Harry was still a senior working royal and was widely viewed as the approachable and mischievous younger brother of Prince William.

Harry and William were reportedly among the most popular members of the Royal Family that year. Harry’s military background, charitable work and relaxed manner helped create an image of a prince who appeared comfortable interacting with members of the public.

His involvement with the Invictus Games also strengthened that reputation. The project allowed Harry to establish a strong connection with wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans while presenting him as a royal focused on a meaningful cause.

Today, however, the picture looks considerably different. Harry is reportedly positioned close to the bottom of royal popularity rankings, above only Meghan Markle and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Malvern described the scale of the change as “catastrophic”, while stressing that there was no single moment responsible for the reversal. Instead, Harry’s popularity appears to have declined gradually as his public relationship with the Royal Family became increasingly complicated.

His decision to speak openly about his experiences inside the monarchy undoubtedly became an important part of that transformation. The Duke began discussing deeply personal aspects of his relationship with his family in increasingly high-profile interviews.

His 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey brought serious allegations and claims about life within the Royal Family to a worldwide audience. The interview generated enormous attention and significantly changed the public conversation surrounding Harry and Meghan.

The couple later continued discussing their experiences in their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan. The revelations were followed by another major development in January 2023, when Harry published his memoir, Spare.

According to Malvern, both the Oprah interview and the memoir had a “big effect” on Harry’s popularity. His increasingly public criticism of members of the Royal Family proved particularly unpopular with sections of the British public.

From Harry’s perspective, however, the disclosures represented an opportunity to explain his experiences and tell his side of a deeply personal family story. The Duke has repeatedly presented his actions as part of his effort to protect himself and his family.

The difficulty for Harry is that the public image created by his charitable work and military service has increasingly been overshadowed by his disputes with the institution he left behind. His transformation from popular young prince to controversial former royal illustrates how dramatically public perception can change over time.

As Harry continues to pursue reconciliation with his family while maintaining his independent life in the United States, his popularity may remain closely connected to how the public views his relationship with the monarchy. Whether he can rebuild some of the goodwill he enjoyed in 2017 remains one of the biggest challenges facing the Duke of Sussex.