Living royals miss out as Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana dominate popularity rankings

Dorothy Reddin
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:30:24 +0000

Queen Elizabeth II continues to hold the nation's affection nearly four years after her death, with fresh YouGov research revealing that 81 per cent of Britons maintain a favourable opinion of the late monarch.

The polling, released ahead of what would have been her centenary on April 21, places her firmly at the summit of royal popularity rankings.

Princess Diana occupies second position with 77 per cent approval, enjoying consistent support across all age groups.

Her eldest son, Prince William, follows closely behind on 76 per cent, making him the most admired living member of the Royal Family.

The survey, which questioned 2,129 adults across Great Britain between April 13 and 14, also found that 84 per cent believe Elizabeth II performed her duties well during her record-breaking 70-year reign, with more than half describing her performance as "very good".

The Princess of Wales sits just behind her husband in fourth place, garnering 75 per cent positive sentiment from respondents.

Princess Anne claims fifth position with 70 per cent approval, placing her ahead of her brother King Charles, who maintains a steady 60 per cent favourability rating, unchanged from previous polling.

The reigning monarch faces mixed reviews, with one in three Britons holding an unfavourable view of him, though 61 per cent believe he is performing his duties adequately.

At the bottom of the rankings sits Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, with a mere three per cent of the public viewing him positively, his joint-lowest figure recorded.

The former Duke of York faces overwhelming disapproval, with 93 per cent of respondents expressing negative opinions, including 85 per cent who describe their view as "very negative".

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to struggle with British public opinion, securing just 30 per cent and 20 per cent approval respectively. The Sussexes, once enjoying popularity comparable to Prince William, now find themselves near the bottom of royal favourability tables.

A notable generational gap emerges in attitudes towards the Sussexes. Among those aged 18 to 24, 35 per cent view Harry favourably, dropping to just 19 per cent among over-65s.

Meghan faces an even starker divide, with 31 per cent of the youngest respondents holding positive views compared to only 10 per cent of the oldest age group.

Despite controversies surrounding Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and ongoing tensions with Harry and Meghan, broader support for the monarchy remains robust at 64 per cent. Nearly half of Britons express pride in the institution, while 59 per cent consider it beneficial for the country.

The polling emerged as Harry and Meghan's Australian visit continues to generate headlines. Speaking at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, the Duke of Sussex made striking admissions about his reluctance to embrace royal duties.

"After my mum died just before my 13th birthday, I was like: 'I don't want this job. I don't want this role wherever this is headed, I don't like it,'" Harry told attendees. "It killed my mum, and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years."

The duke explained that his perspective eventually shifted when he considered how someone else might use the platform to create positive change, and what Princess Diana would have wanted for him.

He acknowledged keeping his "head in the sand" until departing his working royal role and relocating to America with Meghan.

Earlier in the day, the couple addressed students at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, discussing social media's harmful effects on mental wellbeing.

"For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world," Meghan told the gathering. "I'm still here."

Harry reflected on his emotional struggles during his summit address, describing moments of profound difficulty throughout his life.

"There have been many times when I've felt overwhelmed. Times when I've felt lost, betrayed, or completely powerless," he said. "Times when the pressure, externally and internally, felt constant."

The duke spoke of growing up "in a goldfish bowl under constant surveillance" following his mother's death, admitting he remained emotionally numb for years before developing the tools to process his experiences. Becoming a father, he noted, fundamentally altered his approach to seeking support.