How successful was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's move to the US?
Prince Harry himself suggested this week that his motive for returning to live in Britain was not just because he wanted to give his children a British upbringing. Asked by GQ whether the driving force was "more of a US thing" or because he missed the UK, he replied: "A combination of both."
As of this week, we now know that the American public has lost what had previously been a burgeoning enthusiasm for Harry and Meghan.
An annual poll by YouGov of royal favourability shows that Harry and Meghan have had a reversal of fortunes. Their steady increase in popularity among US citizens, since polling began in 2022, has turned into a decline.
The hope that the Sussex brand would be a hit in America has gone unfulfilled.
Harry is liked by 49% of the American public and disliked by 24%, giving him a net rating of +25. How does this compare to other members of the royal family?
The Prince and Princess of Wales are about ten points ahead of him. They have roughly the same number of people who like them but significantly fewer dislikes.
© AFP via Getty ImagesMeghan fares worse. She is liked by 39% and disliked by 26%, giving her a net rating of +13.
But the revealing thing is the pattern. Harry and Meghan had been building their popularity, with the Prince rising 17 points since 2022 and the Duchess rising nine. Their increases in the past two years have now been wiped out.
The couple's big public moments were very unpopular in Britain, but even in America they did not endear them to the American public. The release of their Netflix series in December 2022 and the publication of Harry's memoir Spare in January 2023 were followed by a slight uplift for Meghan but not for Harry.
The release of With Love, Meghan, the Duchess's bid to become a celebrity lifestyle host, was followed by a boost for Harry but not for Meghan.
YouGov's American polls aren't as reliable as their UK ones and must be treated with caution. All members of the royal family are less popular now than they were in an unusually buoyant 2025 poll, but even so it is clear that the numbers are going in the wrong direction for Harry and Meghan. Harry's rating this week is below not only the upbeat 2025 poll, but the 2024 one as well.
© Getty ImagesWhat else does this poll tell us?
The King's official visit to America this summer, which was regarded as a hit in political circles, did not cut through to ordinary Americans. King Charles has the same popularity now as he did two years ago.
The big faller, however, was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. His arrest in February, which appeared on American front pages, has been followed by a drop of 19 points, putting him at his lowest ebb since polling began.
Next week, YouGov will release its British royal favourability polling. Has Harry's return improved his standing in Britain? I will be fascinated to see.
