A brand new opinion poll has revealed that Meghan Markle’s approval rating among the British public is at an all-time low, while Prince William is the most popular royal – and royal expert Jennie Bond has explained why this is the case
Meghan Markle’s popularity in the UK is at an all-time low – and a royal expert has explained why this is the case, with a senior royal’s prediction coming true. A new poll from YouGov has shown that the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity is at its lowest since they started tracking it in 2017, when she and Prince Harry first became engaged.
Currently, 20 per cent of Britons have a positive view of her, while a huge 65 per cent see Meghan negatively. At the other end of the scale, the most popular royal among Brits is Prince William, with three-quarters (75 per cent) having a positive opinion of the heir to the throne, and he is closely followed by his wife Kate, who has a favourability rating of 72 per cent.
And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror that Meghan’s fortunes in the UK are in sharp contrast to William’s. She explained: “I think people feel Meghan has turned her back on the UK: that she didn’t like it here from the start and that she has absolutely no desire to set foot here again.
“So there’s no love lost between Meghan and the great British public. And I don’t think that’s going to change. It’s a great shame, because she and Harry could have been the most brilliant support for the 21st-century monarchy.
“I don’t know whether the royals pay much attention to opinion polls, but they probably should. William himself has said that it is vital for the monarchy to stay relevant and in touch.
“Opinion polls – however wrong they can sometimes be – are some sort of gauge as to whether the royals are connecting with people.”
Jennie added that William’s popularity among people is not a surprise for her, especially as the late Princess Diana predicted it. She explained, “Clearly, William is doing something very right. His informal, approachable way of going about his work is resonating with the public.
“Even the way he talks is different to previous generations. He’s well spoken, of course, but not overly posh. He dresses well, of course, but is quite often wearing jeans and trainers.
“He’ll pose for selfies with the crowds, he’ll even work the camera for them if they get flustered! All this adds up to a prince and future King who seems reasonably in touch – despite his privileged status. As Diana once said to me: ‘William’s alright. The country is very lucky to have William. I think she was bang on.
“As is often said, cancer is a great leveller. And the diagnosis of both Catherine and the King has created a wave of sympathy for all of them. But the Princess has always had a great warmth about her and it’s no surprise to see that she is so popular.
“The films that she has presented – about her cancer, her recovery and now her belief in Mother Nature – have allowed us to see into her heart and her soul. Unsurprisingly, people like what they see: a compassionate, humble and thoughtful young woman who is grappling with life’s complex and sometimes cruel problems with grace and dignity.”
