Meghan Markle has been cautioned by a PR expert about how to regain her popularity. The Duchess of Sussex has seen a steady decline in her favourability among the public in the UK and the US.
The popularity of Prince Harry's wife took a nosedive when the couple quit the Royal Family and moved to the US in 2020. Since then, in their quest for financial independence from the Firm, the Sussex couple have given a series of interviews and media appearances in which they spoke unfavourably about their time at the Firm, which is said to have largely contributed to their declining popularity.
Poll shows low favourability
Last July, a YouGov survey placed Meghan in the second-lowest spot, only surpassing the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The survey revealed that only 22% of Britons see Meghan in a positive light, compared with two-thirds (65%) who hold an unfavourable opinion of the former Suits actress.
Her husband, on the other hand, saw a rare boost, with his favourability rising. A third of Britons (33%) said they now see him favourably, up six points since May 2025, while the proportion with a negative view of the Duke fell five points over this period to 58%.
Expert's advice on social media
It comes amid a flurry of people criticising the duchess for her various posting sprees on social media in recent months, including her birthday drop and her anniversary tribute. Now, a PR expert has weighed in on what the duchess really needs to do if she ever wants to boost her popularity back up.
Renae Smith, founder of PR and branding agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express that she would advise the duchess to show "more restraint" when it comes to her appearance on social media.
"If I were advising her, I probably would have suggested more restraint. Statistics generally show that audiences respond best to emotionally resonant content when it feels intentional rather than relentless."
She added: "That said, selective sharing is not uncommon among public figures. Research in digital marketing consistently shows that personal and behind-the-scenes content tends to generate stronger engagement than polished promotional posts because audiences feel they are seeing something more intimate and authentic. So if her goal [is] to deepen the connection with her core audience and reinforce the family-focused lifestyle brand she is building, then the strategy makes sense."
