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Prince William is liked by so many more British people than Meghan Markle that it would take a 100 point swing in her net favorability rating for the duchess to catch up.
The Prince of Wales was liked by 74 percent and disliked by 17 percent in polling by YouGov, giving him a net favorability rating of plus 57.
Meghan was liked by 23 percent and disliked by 66 percent in the same research, conducted on February 6 and 7, putting her on minus 43.
That means the Duchess of Sussex's net rating would have to go up 100 points, made of both an increase in people who like her and a decrease in those who dislike her, before she matched William.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton was viewed positively by 70 percent and negatively by 16 percent, putting her on plus 54.
And Prince Harry was liked by 28 percent and disliked by 63 percent giving him a net score of minus 35.
How Harry and Meghan Lost Britain
The huge divide between William and Meghan comes in stark contrast to when she was a working royal and enjoyed positive net approval ratings in Britain.
In late November 2019, Meghan and Harry left Britain for Canada after a year she said was characterized by relentlessly hostile coverage in the British press.
Yet she was still liked by 54 percent of Brits and disliked by 34 percent, putting her on plus 20. Meghan and Harry's popularity in Britain started to collapse in January 2020 after they announced they were quitting royal duties and accelerated after their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
U.S. Attitudes to Harry and Meghan
They continued to maintain positive approval ratings in America until January 2023, when the release of the prince's book Spare, a month after their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, appeared to send their popularity in the US. tumbling into negative numbers.
Since then, U.S. attitudes to the couple have slowly swung back and both were viewed more positively than negatively in December.
Meghan was liked by 38 percent and disliked by 23 percent giving her a net approval rating among American adults of 15.
Harry was viewed favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 16 percent giving him a net approval rating of plus 29.
How Britain Reacted to King Charles' Cancer
The latest YouGov poll of British adults also indicated that 38 percent are following news of King Charles III's cancer diagnosis closely, while 60 percent were not closely following such coverage.
Charles was liked by 63 percent and disliked by 29 percent, giving him a net approval rating of plus 34.
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more