Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s popularity with the British public has taken a significant hit, according to a recent YouGov poll.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been discussing the private life of the Royal Family in numerous interviews since stepping down as senior members in March 2020.

However, Royal expert Penny Junor has warned the couple against their latest media appearances, insisting that they have not thought things through.

Speaking to Channel 5 documentary Harry and Meghan, Three Troubled Years, Royal expert Julie Montagu said, “After year two when they moved away, many of us expected him to just live a quiet life and become financially independent.

Here we are three years on and you also have an enormous shift in the relationship with the Royal Family and Meghan and Harry.

A shift that none of us could have expected.”

Narrator Jennifer Sarring added, “Is their popularity with the British public declining too?”

Ms. Junor said, “I don't think they're getting very good advice at the moment, and I don't think they are thinking a lot of these things through.”

Journalist Richard Kaye noted, “I do think a lot of people have become disenchanted with him and her over what has happened, and he is not quite the popular figure that he once was.”

The YouGov poll, which quizzed 1,730 UK adults from April 21 to 22, found that almost half of Britons view the Duke negatively, while more than 60% have a negative view of the Duchess.

This is a further drop from March 11 to 12, when attitudes towards the Duke turned negative for the first time.

Just 43% viewed Harry positively, down from 45% the previous month.

Meghan's scores have also plunged, with just 29% having a positive view of the Duchess.

A total of 61% view her negatively, up from 58%.

This means she has a net rating of −32, down from −14 earlier in the month.

Prince Andrew remains the least popular royal as 79% of Brits view him negatively.

However, the poll highlighted Prince Edward and Prince Charles had received the biggest boost in popularity in recent months.

Prince Edward led the royal family's public efforts to show the Queen's appreciation for the public in the aftermath of Prince Philip's death in April.

The Earl of Wessex, alongside wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and daughter Lady Louise viewed floral tributes to the Duke at Windsor as well as spoke with the public on several occasions in the run-up to the funeral.