King Charles Suffers Major Popularity Blow as Prince Harry and Meghan’s UK Return Sparks Fresh Royal Debate
King Charles is facing an unexpected challenge as his popularity among the British public reportedly falls to its lowest level of his reign after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return.
The latest figures have sparked fresh discussion about the monarchy, particularly after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to Britain and continued attracting considerable media attention through their public appearances.
On the latest episode of Palace Confidential, Richard Eden and a panel of royal commentators discussed the monarch’s declining favourability and the possible reasons behind the latest polling figures.
Eden suggested that the Sussexes’ return to British shores could be affecting the King’s public standing, arguing that their continued presence has created difficulties for the monarch.
Since arriving back in August, Harry and Meghan have remained prominent in headlines, despite no longer being working members of the Royal Family following their decision to step back from official duties in 2020.
The royal editor also pointed to what he described as the couple’s ‘quasi-royal’ engagements, suggesting that their activities have created confusion about their relationship with the institution.
“I think the King’s ratings are suffering because of Harry and Meghan’s return,” Eden said during the discussion.
He went further by arguing that the King had damaged his reputation by seemingly welcoming the Sussexes back without taking action over their continued use of royal titles.
“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,” Eden added.
The commentator also suggested that removing Harry and Meghan’s titles could potentially improve the monarch’s popularity, although this was his personal opinion rather than an established explanation for the polling results.
Fellow panellist Charlotte Griffiths offered a different perspective, focusing particularly on Meghan’s public image and her attempts to present herself as a relatable and down-to-earth personality.
Griffiths questioned whether the Duchess’s lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, had helped her achieve that goal, suggesting that her repeated attempts to reinvent her public image were not necessarily working.
She also noted that Meghan could receive some public sympathy because of the difficult situation involving her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr.
Thomas has reportedly been reported to authorities in the Philippines and the FBI over allegations concerning suspected child sexual abuse images. He has denied the claims, describing them as ‘sick lies’, and no charges have been brought.
Eden suggested that Harry and Meghan could still improve their relationship with the British public, arguing that a public apology to the Royal Family, particularly Prince William and Princess Catherine, might help repair some of the damage caused by their past disputes.
The latest YouGov figures reportedly show that King Charles’s favourability has fallen four points since July to 58 per cent. Harry’s rating has also dropped four points to 29 per cent, while Meghan’s has fallen to just 20 per cent favourable, with 68 per cent viewing her unfavourably, giving her a net score of minus 48.
