Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are confronted with a significant "challenge" that requires dedicated effort to overcome, according to a public relations expert. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have experienced a sharp decline in popularity since stepping down as senior working members of the Royal Family in 2020. Their reputation suffered further after a series of attacks against the royals in interviews, their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, and Prince Harry's memoir, Spare.
Current Approval Ratings
Although the couple have recently tempered their criticisms in an attempt to mend their strained relationship with the royal family, efforts to restore their public image have been largely unsuccessful. A YouGov survey from May 2025 placed Harry and Meghan just above Prince Andrew, with approval ratings of 33% and 22%, respectively. Another poll by YouGov America in June 2025 showed Meghan's favourability at 27%, a significant drop from 37% in the third quarter of 2024, when her net approval rating was +15.
Expert Advice: Consistency Is Key
Renae Smith, founder of PR and branding agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express that the Sussexes can rebuild their reputation, but only through consistent behaviour over time. "Reputations are rebuilt through repeated behaviour over long periods of time, not one well-managed visit," Smith said. "The challenge for Harry and Meghan has always been consistency. Just when things begin to settle, something usually happens that pulls them back into controversy or creates another contradictory headline."
Future Prospects
Smith added that while their recent UK trip was a PR success, the real test is whether they can replicate this approach multiple times. "The real question isn't whether this trip was successful. In the PR world, yes, it was. The real question is whether they can repeat this approach another ten times… And for this, we must wait and see."
