A Look at the Duchess's Public Image Since Leaving the Royal Family

Meghan Markle's standing in the United States has fluctuated since she and Prince Harry decided to step back from their royal roles in 2020. Following her marriage into the Royal Family in May 2018, the couple relocated to Meghan's native country two years later. While her current popularity is positive, it hasn't yet reached the levels it held before the Oprah Winfrey interview, which took place a year after they left their royal duties.

A YouGov poll conducted in March 2021, immediately after the interview aired, revealed that 68 percent of Americans sympathized with Harry and Meghan.

In April, YouGov's most recent polling indicated that 41 percent of Americans liked Meghan, while 26 percent disliked her, resulting in a net positive rating of 15. Prince Harry had a higher net rating of 35. Other members of the Royal Family also featured in the poll, with Princess Kate at plus 43, Prince William at plus 53, and King Charles at plus 21. Queen Camilla, who has faced criticism, surprisingly ranked lower than Meghan, with a negative score of seven. The polls consistently show that Meghan and Harry have ranked lower than William and Kate but higher than Camilla.

Despite not reaching her previous peak popularity, Meghan has gained more favor in the US than she did following the release of Harry's memoir, "Spare," in early 2023. The couple moved to California in 2020 with their son Archie, who was born in the UK in 2019. They later welcomed their daughter Lilibet, born in June 2021.