In a stunning blow to the Sussex brand, Meghan Markle’s popularity appears to be plummeting—not just in the UK, but now across the pond in the United States, too.
According to a bombshell analysis by royal commentator Daniela Elser for News.com.au, the latest YouGov polling data paints a grim picture for the Duchess of Sussex and her husband, Prince Harry. While their standing in Britain has long been on shaky ground, the U.S.—once considered their safe haven—is no longer showing the unwavering support they might have hoped for.
Elser doesn’t mince words. “This polling is just the latest sign that she and other half Prince Harry… are losing the battle of public opinion,” she writes, in what can only be described as a scathing take on the Sussexes’ faltering image.
While she acknowledges that the original YouGov poll was conducted among British citizens—many of whom “never liked Meghan” and viewed her arrival in the UK with suspicion—Elser says the latest U.S. numbers are equally damning.
A separate YouGov survey of 1,200 American adults reveals that only a minority view Meghan positively. In fact, 25% of those surveyed expressed negative opinions about the Duchess. Surprisingly, Prince Harry’s numbers are even worse, with 35% holding an unfavorable view of the Duke.
And the shock doesn’t stop there—Prince William, often seen as the “steady” royal, hasn’t escaped the scrutiny either, with a whopping 53% of Americans reporting negative views of him. Still, Meghan’s drop in favorability is perhaps the most jarring, considering the Sussexes were once embraced in the U.S. as underdogs fleeing an outdated monarchy.
Elser’s article suggests that Meghan’s American dream may be unraveling. She sarcastically notes there’s no need for celebration at Sussex HQ, quipping, “the results are hardly enough to bust out the good cashew and goji power balls in the Sussex HQ breakroom.”
This development comes amid mounting criticism of the couple’s various media endeavors—from the high-profile collapse of their Spotify deal to a Netflix partnership that’s yet to produce consistent hits. Critics argue the Sussexes have struggled to maintain public interest after the initial post-royal bombshells faded.
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Despite Meghan’s rebranding efforts—such as launching her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard—the U.S. public seems to be growing weary of the couple’s mixed messaging. Are they royalty seeking privacy, or celebrities chasing spotlight? For many, the lines remain frustratingly blurred.
Some blame overexposure, others point to a perceived sense of entitlement, but whatever the reason, the honeymoon between America and the Sussexes may be over. And for a couple that has staked so much on their international image and influence, this is more than a PR hiccup—it’s a crisis.
It’s also worth noting that this decline comes at a time when the Sussexes have seemingly distanced themselves even further from the British royal family. With King Charles battling health concerns and Kate Middleton stepping away from royal duties for treatment, the absence of Harry and Meghan from key family moments hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Even those once sympathetic to the couple’s struggles are beginning to question whether they’ve squandered their platform. As Elser points out, these latest numbers suggest a significant loss of goodwill.
The Duchess of Sussex may have entered the global stage as a modern breath of fresh air for the monarchy, but these latest polls indicate a dramatic shift in how both Americans and Brits view her role today.
For now, Meghan and Harry remain silent in the face of these growing public doubts. But as the numbers continue to trend downward, the question remains: Can the Sussexes reclaim the narrative—or is the fairytale over.
