Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first joint appearance since returning to the UK drew a crowd of just 150 to 200 people in Nottingham, a turnout that paled in comparison to the several hundred who greeted King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Cardiff on the same day.
The King and Queen attended the ceremonial opening of the seventh Senedd in Cardiff, where they were met by a larger and more enthusiastic public. The contrast in public reception has prompted suggestions that Harry and Meghan could learn from the approach that has kept Charles and Camilla popular.
Royal Silliness as a Popularity Tool
One tactic suggested for Harry and Meghan is embracing "royal silliness," such as appearing in a beloved British soap opera. Such cameos have historically endeared royals to the British public, whether pulling pints in the Rovers Return or enjoying a drink in the Queen Vic.
King Charles has previous form in this area. In 2000, he made a solo appearance in Coronation Street to mark the soap's 40th anniversary, playing himself in a fictional news bulletin during a live broadcast and meeting Weatherfield councillor Audrey Roberts, played by Sue Nicholls.
Camilla's Coronation Street Connection
Queen Camilla is a dedicated Coronation Street fan. According to William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, she takes her phone off the hook to watch the show in peace. When she visited the set in February 2010 to celebrate the soap's 50th anniversary, she walked the cobbles, met the cast, and stepped behind the Rovers bar to pull a pint alongside Beverley Callard.
Camilla reportedly expressed interest in a cameo, though an on-screen appearance never materialised. The royal couple did appear together on EastEnders in 2022, playing themselves in a special episode celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, surprising residents of Albert Square at a street party outside the Queen Vic hosted by Mick and Linda Carter, played by Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright.
A Path to Rebuilding Goodwill
These appearances show royals willing to have a laugh, embrace popular culture, and step outside pomp and ceremony, according to the commentary. Harry and Meghan could benefit from similar goodwill. While Meghan starred in the American legal drama Suits, Coronation Street has a formidable audience across the Commonwealth, with generations of fans in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
A turn on the cobbles would signal a sense of humour and a willingness to embrace one of Britain's most enduring cultural institutions. A couple of minutes on a beloved British soap could do more to rehabilitate Harry and Meghan's image than any number of carefully choreographed appearances.
