Silence is Golden: Meghan and Prince Harry's Approval Ratings Improve Amid Reduced Public Presence, Says Megyn Kelly
Megyn Kelly, a journalist and media personality, recently claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle experienced an increase in their approval ratings only when they "kept their mouth shut." The conversation took place during an interview with Dan Wootton on GB News.
Referencing a Daily Mail poll, Wootton highlighted that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ranked among the least popular members of the royal family. Prince Harry's approval rating stood at 22%, while Meghan Markle's was 18%, both higher than Prince Andrew's lowest score of 7%.
Wootton pointed out that Meghan Markle appeared to be rehabilitating her image in late April through her Misan Harriman TED Talk video appearance, a basketball date with Prince Harry, and a new partnership with WME.
When asked if King Charles III would be "better off" without Meghan Markle at his upcoming coronation, Megyn Kelly replied, "100%." She added, "Very clearly, in the U.K., people cannot stand them, especially her. I mean, 18% approval, I think even the U.S. Congress has a higher approval rating."
Kelly also discussed the Sussexes' approval ratings in the United States, where they have been residing since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. She argued that the couple's popularity among Americans declines when they are in the headlines and increases when they remain out of the public eye or refrain from announcing new projects.
Kelly observed that the couple's U.S. approval ratings held steady in December 2022 but plummeted after their media tour, the release of their Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," and Prince Harry's revealing memoir, "Spare." However, she noted that their ratings experienced a slight uptick over the past two months when they maintained a low profile.
According to a recent Newsweek poll, Meghan Markle's approval rating increased by five points, and Prince Harry's rose by a few points. Kelly remarked, "Still, [only] 33% of Americans like her [and] only 39% like him. She's still down at one-third liking her and two-thirds can't stand her in America."
Kelly speculated that Meghan Markle's recent appearances and announcements might "backfire" and cause her popularity to decline once again. She explained that the improvement in the couple's approval ratings over the past months could be attributed to their silence and reduced public presence, which may be an indication that people find them less appealing when they demand constant attention.
Prince Harry will return to the U.K. this week to attend King Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday. Meghan Markle will remain in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.