Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly received a “slap in the face” following their return to the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to Britain in late August with their children, but their homecoming has seemingly done little to improve public opinion.
A royal reporter pointed to their low popularity ratings, backlash over past royal revelations, and limited contact with family members as signs of their continued unpopularity. Meanwhile, their children are reportedly settling into British schools, leaving the couple facing questions about their own standing with the public.
Royal reporter says public hasn’t forgotten or forgiven Meghan Markle and Prince Harry yet
In her November 1, 2026, Express column, royal reporter Jasmine Carey examined how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been received following their return to the UK. Carey noted that the couple were “happy to be back in the country they left in 2020.”
However, she argued that “the public do not seem to have yet forgiven them.” She further suggested that “it seems that they have failed to change the public’s mind about them.” According to the reporter, settling back into life in Britain has not necessarily translated into greater public goodwill.
Meanwhile, an October 29 YouGov survey highlighted the couple’s continued struggle with public perception. Only 20% of respondents viewed Meghan favorably, compared to 29% for Harry. The poll surveyed 2,116 British adults on October 22 and 23.
Reflecting on the findings, Carey noted, “They still rank low in popularity polls.” She added that “many Brits still call for them to go back to the US.” The reporter also claimed that Britons had “neither forgiven nor forgotten” the couple’s past criticism of the Royal Family. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that their Nottingham trip “seemed to go well.”
Carey also highlighted the apparent lack of reconciliation within the Royal Family. She noted that Harry had not met King Charles since the couple’s return. As for Prince William and Catherine, Carey wrote, “Rumour has it they haven’t spoken for years.” However, her suggestion that the Prince and Princess of Wales felt relieved by the couple’s return remained speculative.
Ultimately, Carey urged Meghan and Harry to “understand why the public can’t forgive and forget” and suggested that “they should apologise.” She also argued that the couple needed to demonstrate that they “aren’t just back in the UK for financial reasons.” Concluding her assessment, the reporter remarked, “forgiveness cannot be earned overnight, and clearly it can’t be earned in two months either.”
