The internet has a weird way of making you feel like everyone either worships the ground someone walks on or wants them launched into the sun. There is no middle ground in the comment sections of 2026. When you ask, does anyone like Meghan Markle, you’re usually met with two very loud, very angry groups of people shouting over each other.
It’s exhausting. Honestly, trying to find a straight answer about the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity is like trying to find a quiet corner at a Taylor Swift concert. But if we look past the "Doom Loop" headlines and the stan accounts on X, the data tells a much more nuanced story.
Meghan isn't just a person anymore; she's a Rorschach test for how people feel about tradition, race, the British monarchy, and even the concept of "girlboss" culture. Some people see a victim of a prehistoric institution. Others see a master manipulator who took the favorite prince and ran. The reality? Well, it depends entirely on who you ask and where they live.
The Brutal Numbers: Why the UK is a Tough Crowd
If we're looking at the United Kingdom, the short answer is: not many people. At least, not right now.
According to YouGov’s January 2026 royal favorability tracker, Meghan’s popularity has hit a staggering all-time low. We’re talking about 19% of Britons holding a positive view of her. To put that in perspective, Prince William and Kate Middleton are sitting pretty in the mid-70s. Even Prince Harry, who usually polls better than his wife, is struggling at around 28%.
Why is the UK so cold? It’s not just one thing. Royal experts like Ingrid Seward point to a "generational betrayal" narrative. Many older Brits feel like Meghan "stole" Harry from his family. There’s a deep-seated loyalty to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the perception—fair or not—is that Meghan’s interviews and Netflix projects were a slight against the crown.
But here’s the kicker: the youth aren't nearly as mad. Among 18-24 year olds, her favorability is much higher (closer to 38% in some polls). Young people tend to view her through the lens of mental health advocacy and standing up to an "archaic" system. For them, she’s not a villain; she’s a whistleblower.
💡 You might also like: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes in 2026
Does America Still Have the "Meghan Fever"?
Across the pond in the US, the vibe is different, but the honeymoon phase is definitely over.
When the Sussexes first landed in Montecito, they were Hollywood royalty. But as of late 2025 and early 2026, the American public has started to show signs of "Sussex Fatigue." A Ranker poll from December 2025 actually placed Meghan as the second most disliked celebrity in the US, trailing only behind Sean "Diddy" Combs (who, to be fair, was dealing with massive legal issues).
That’s a heavy hit.
The American criticism is less about "tradition" and more about "relatability." In a world where people are struggling with inflation and housing costs, watching a multi-millionaire launch a luxury lifestyle brand called As Ever (the successor to American Riviera Orchard) feels a bit tone-deaf to some. People are tired of the "rebrand, launch, repeat" cycle.
However, she still has a massive, loyal base. She’s not "unliked" by everyone—she’s polarized.
- The "Sussex Squad": A fiercely loyal online community that defends her against every tabloid story.
- The A-List Support: She still has the backing of heavy hitters. Khloe Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams have all publicly supported her lifestyle brand recently.
- The Netflix Effect: Her 2025 cooking series With Love, Meghan actually performed well with a specific demographic that loves aesthetic, aspirational content.
The "Doom Loop" vs. Commercial Success
There’s this theory floating around royal commentary circles—specifically mentioned by Lee Cohen—that Meghan is caught in a "Doom Loop." The idea is: Launch. Hype. Disappointment. Rebrand. Repeat.
📖 Related: Addison Rae and The Kid LAROI: What Really Happened
Critics argue that her products, like the $200+ jams or leather bookmarks, don't have enough substance to sustain a long-term business. They say she’s trading on a royal title that is losing its luster the longer she stays away from London.
But is that true?
Interestingly, some internal data leaked from her As Ever website showed that despite the "dislike" polls, she sold through nearly 90% of her original inventory during the holiday season. This suggests a classic celebrity paradox: people might say they dislike you in a poll, but they’ll still buy your rose wine and honey if the branding is pretty enough.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Popularity
We tend to think of "liking" someone as a binary—yes or no. But with Meghan, there is a massive "indifferent" middle.
A lot of people don’t actually hate her. They just don't care. In the UK, a significant portion of the "negative" sentiment is actually just boredom. They’ve heard the grievances, they’ve seen the documentaries, and they’ve moved on to wondering what’s happening with King Charles’s health or Prince William’s latest project.
What really happened with Meghan's public image is a shift from Global Icon to Niche Influencer.
👉 See also: Game of Thrones Actors: Where the Cast of Westeros Actually Ended Up
She’s no longer trying to be the "People’s Princess." She’s trying to be Martha Stewart with a Duchess title. And you don't need 100% of the world to like you to be a successful lifestyle mogul. You just need a dedicated 15% who are willing to open their wallets.
Why the Dislike Feels So Intense
Let’s be real for a second. The "hate" for Meghan Markle is often disproportionate.
While people like Prince Andrew have much lower favorability ratings (around 3-5% in the UK), the intensity of the conversation around Meghan is ten times higher. Why? Because she represents a cultural flashpoint.
- The Race Factor: You cannot discuss Meghan’s popularity without acknowledging the racial vitriol she faced in the British press. For many people of color, the dislike of Meghan feels like a proxy for a dislike of change and diversity within traditional spaces.
- The "Family First" Narrative: In the US, people are emotional about family. The "flea in the ointment," as biographer Ingrid Seward calls it, is the public rift with her father and the Royals. To a lot of people, cutting off family—no matter how toxic—feels "cold."
- The Authenticity Gap: This is her biggest hurdle. Everything Meghan does feels highly curated. In an era where people crave "raw" content, her perfectly lit Netflix specials can feel a bit like a long-form commercial.
Actionable Insights: How to Navigate the Sussex Noise
If you’re trying to make sense of whether Meghan is "liked" or not, stop looking at the top-line numbers and look at the "who."
- If you are a Brand or Marketer: Meghan is a masterclass in the "Polarization Strategy." She doesn't need the 65% of people who dislike her; she needs the 20% who are obsessed with her aesthetic.
- If you are a Royal Watcher: Watch the 2026 return of Prince Harry to London for the Invictus Games. If Meghan joins him, it will be the ultimate test of whether the UK public is ready to move on.
- If you are just a Curious Bystander: Understand that the "Meghan Markle" you see in the news is a character. The real person exists somewhere between the "victim" portrayed in Harry & Meghan and the "villain" portrayed in the Daily Mail.
The question isn't really "Does anyone like Meghan Markle?" The answer to that is a resounding yes—millions do. The real question is whether the people who don't like her will ever stop talking about her. Given the current state of the media in 2026, that seems highly unlikely.
To stay truly informed, look at raw data from sources like YouGov or Ipsos rather than opinion pieces. Check the actual sales figures of her ventures when they become public. The gap between "public opinion" and "commercial reality" is where the truth usually hides. Compare the demographic breakdowns: if you're under 30, you're statistically much more likely to be a fan than if you're over 60. That's not just a royal rift; it's a generational one.