An exclusive poll conducted for the Mail on Sunday, in collaboration with Del Depol, uncovers these revealing insights. Out of the 1,500 individuals polled, an impressive 80% voiced their agreement with the initiative to strip the Duke of Sussex of his fifth-in-line status. This positioning currently places him behind his elder brother, the Prince of Wales, as well as William's offspring—George, Charlotte, and Louis.
In contrast, a mere 10% of respondents voiced opposition to the idea of Prince Harry's removal from his birthright, while 10% remained neutral, with no strong viewpoint. Further illustrating the prevailing sentiment, a resounding 80% of those surveyed also advocated for the revocation of titles held by Harry and his young family. Presently, Prince Harry and his spouse retain their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their offspring hold the titles of prince and princess due to their status as grandchildren of the reigning monarch, King Charles.
Notably, the poll exposes a shift in Prince Harry's popularity since the passing of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. When asked about changes in their perception of Prince Harry, 45% of respondents indicated a deterioration in their opinion of him over the past year, while only 12% noted an improvement. In contrast, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Princess Catherine, garnered considerably more favorable ratings. A substantial 76% of those surveyed expressed positive views about their performance in their evolving roles.
Interestingly, when pondering the safeguarding of the Commonwealth's future, a majority of participants selected Prince William as the senior Royal best suited for the task. This outcome raises inquiries about whether Prince Harry's constitutional role as a counselor of state, which grants him the ability to stand in for his father on matters of state, should also be reconsidered.
This development coincides with recent adjustments made by Buckingham Palace, where references to Prince Harry as His Royal Highness (HRH) were discreetly removed from the official Royal Family website. Although the terms of the 2020 Megxit agreement stipulated that Harry and Meghan could retain their HRH titles but refrain from using them after stepping down as senior Royals, discrepancies in the Royal website had allowed references to persist. In a series of updates implemented on Friday, these references have been effectively eliminated.
This alteration is the latest in a series of events that have sparked discussions about Prince Harry and Meghan's standing within the Royal Family. Their HRH titles have been the subject of scrutiny since Meghan Markle's official biography was updated three years ago to exclude her HRH title. However, remnants of these titles persisted on certain sections of the royal website, including a quote from a speech delivered in 2019.
This recent development is emblematic of the ongoing challenges facing the couple. Recent setbacks, including their removal from a $20 million Spotify deal and criticism from a senior Spotify executive branding them as "grifters," have cast shadows over their image. Furthermore, public sentiment towards them has experienced a decline, signifying a multifaceted struggle for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
