Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face a clear message from the latest UK poll

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not beloved by the British public (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have returned to Britain after six years away, but the latest public-opinion figures suggest their homecoming has done little to change how the British public views them.

The new Ipsos poll places the Prince and Princess of Wales firmly at the top of the popularity rankings, while Harry and Meghan remain significantly further down the list. The figures also reveal a striking generational divide over the Sussexes’ decision to relocate to the UK.

William and Catherine received favourable ratings from 65% of Britons, making them the most popular members of the Royal Family in the survey. They were followed by Princess Anne on 59%, King Charles on 52% and Queen Camilla on 33%.

Harry received a favourable rating from just 22% of those surveyed, while Meghan stood at 17%.

The figures come as the Sussexes begin a new chapter in Britain, with their return attracting attention but apparently failing to generate the strong public reaction some might have expected.

Most Britons are not taking a strong position on their return

The Princess of Wales is the most popular Royal (Image: Getty Images)

The poll suggests that the British public is largely indifferent to the couple’s relocation.

Only 18% of those surveyed said they supported Harry and Meghan’s move back to the UK, while 29% opposed it.

The largest group, however, was made up of those who had no opinion. Some 48% said they neither supported nor opposed the move.

A similar pattern emerges when Britons were asked about the possibility of Harry and Meghan reconciling with the wider Royal Family.

Some 38% believed a reconciliation would be a positive development, while 17% were against the idea. Another 33% said they did not have a view.

That suggests that, rather than there being overwhelming public demand for either outcome, a substantial section of the country remains relatively disengaged from the Sussexes’ return and the continuing family rift.

A significant divide between younger and older Britons

The polling becomes more revealing when the responses are broken down by age.

Younger Britons appear considerably more accepting of Harry and Meghan returning to the country. Among those aged 18 to 34, only 14% opposed their return.

The figure was dramatically higher among people aged 55 to 75, with 43% saying they did not want Harry and Meghan to return to Britain.

The difference highlights the generational divide that has repeatedly emerged in attitudes towards the Sussexes and the wider monarchy.

Royal commentator warns of a difficult reception

Royal commentator Christopher Wilson takes a particularly negative view of the couple’s decision to return to Britain.

He believes Harry and Meghan should leave the country before causing further damage to themselves or the Royal Family.

“If they believe they can undertake public engagements as if nothing had happened, I predict they are in for a rude awakening – people are angry and the upset they’ve caused, and won’t be afraid to say so when they hit the street,” Mr Wilson said.

He also warned that the couple are “going to get booed”.

According to Mr Wilson, Harry would be mistaken if he believes the Royal Family needs him because there is a “gap in their ranks”.

He went as far as to suggest that if Harry and Meghan remain in Britain for “two or three” years, they could become a “national joke”.

Those are Mr Wilson’s views rather than a prediction established by the poll itself, but they underline the controversy surrounding the Sussexes’ decision to rebuild their lives in the UK.

Harry and Meghan remain outside the working Royal Family

The couple’s return also comes with an important distinction over their official status.

A letter sent on behalf of King Charles makes clear that Harry and Meghan are not working royals and are not permitted to carry out official engagements in that capacity. They have instead been described as “private citizens”.

Their return therefore does not represent a return to their former positions as senior working members of the Royal Family.

The wider picture remains favourable for the monarchy

While the figures for Harry and Meghan remain relatively low, the wider Ipsos findings point to continued support for the monarchy.

More than eight in 10 Britons, or 83%, believe the UK will still have a monarchy in 10 years’ time. Even looking further ahead, 57% expect the institution to remain in place in 50 years.

King Charles also receives majority approval, with 53% saying he is doing a “good job” as monarch. Only 9% believe he is doing a “bad job”.

The survey also found that 42% believe Britain would be worse off if the monarchy were abolished, compared with 22% who think the country would be better without the Crown.

Almost half of those surveyed, 49%, said they had a favourable view of the Royal Family as a whole, while 24% held an unfavourable opinion.

William and Catherine remain the monarchy’s strongest assets

The strongest numbers in the poll belong to William and Catherine.

Only around one in 10 Britons expressed a negative view of Catherine, while just 12% viewed Prince William unfavourably.

The findings reinforce the continuing popularity of the future King and Queen at a time when Harry and Meghan are attempting to establish their own position in Britain.

Ipsos’ Keiran Pedley said the results demonstrate the “underlying resilience” of the British monarchy, noting that more than four in 10 Britons believe abolishing it would leave the country worse off.

He also highlighted the importance of William and Catherine, describing the Prince and Princess of Wales as the Royal Family’s “strongest assets”.

For Harry and Meghan, the poll delivers a more complicated picture. Their return has not produced overwhelming opposition, but neither has it generated a wave of enthusiasm. With almost half of Britons taking no position on their move, and their favourability ratings remaining well below those of the senior working royals, the challenge for the Sussexes may be less about winning over a hostile nation and more about changing an already established public perception. (ipsos.com)