Prince Harry’s Popularity ‘Has Suffered a Catastrophic Fall’ — From Royal Favourite to Almost Last
Prince Harry was once one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. Now, according to polling analysis, the Duke of Sussex has suffered a “catastrophic” collapse in popularity — with only his wife Meghan Markle and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly ranking below him.
The dramatic reversal marks a remarkable change for a royal who was once viewed as the fun-loving younger brother of Prince William and enjoyed widespread affection from the British public.
HELLO! senior editor Jack Malvern has examined the polling data tracking Harry’s popularity and claims there was one particularly significant moment that had a bigger impact on his public image than the others.
Speaking to royal editor Emily Nash on A Right Royal Podcast, Malvern revealed just how dramatically Harry’s standing has changed.
Back in 2017, Harry was reportedly jointly the most popular member of the Royal Family, sharing the top spot with his older brother William.
Today, his position is dramatically different.
“So at one stage back in 2017, he was the joint most popular member of the royal family along with William,” Malvern explained.
“And now he is almost last. Not quite – he’s just ahead of Meghan and, unsurprisingly, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
“But that fall has been catastrophic for him. And it didn’t necessarily happen in the way you might think.”
The Moment Harry’s Popularity Began To Plummet
Harry’s decline in popularity has been linked to a series of highly publicised developments since he stepped away from frontline royal duties.
Among the biggest were his explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey and the publication of his bestselling memoir, Spare.
Both moments generated enormous international attention and placed Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family under an intense spotlight.
Malvern acknowledged that both had a significant effect on public opinion.
“There were other parts where you might expect public opinion to change,” he explained.
“When he went on the Oprah interview and when he published Spare – and they did have a big effect, and they were relentlessly negative.”
Harry, however, has consistently presented his decision to speak publicly as an attempt to tell his side of the story.
But according to the polling analysis, that explanation has done little to restore his standing with the British public.
“From Harry’s point of view, he just wants to set out his side of the story,” Malvern said.
“But it hasn’t been welcome in Britain amongst the British public.”
Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020 marked another major turning point.
The couple subsequently moved to Montecito, California, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Since then, their relationship with the Royal Family has remained strained, while Harry’s public appearances and interviews have continued to attract intense scrutiny in Britain.
A Glimpse Of The ‘Old Harry’
More recently, however, Harry has offered glimpses of a different side of himself.
Emily Nash noted that the Duke has appeared in softer, more relaxed interviews, including conversations with James Corden and former rugby star Joe Marler.
Those appearances have allowed audiences to see some of the humour and warmth that once helped make Harry such a popular royal.
But so far, they appear to have made little difference to his overall popularity.
“It’s not really touching the sides at the moment,” Nash said.
For a man who was once regarded as one of the most relatable and popular figures in the monarchy, the contrast is striking.
Harry’s journey from royal favourite to one of the least popular members of the family represents one of the most dramatic shifts in public opinion surrounding a senior royal in recent years.
And with his popularity now reportedly sitting only above Meghan and Andrew, the question remains whether the Duke of Sussex can ever rebuild the connection he once had with the British public.
