Meghan Markle Among Least Admired Royal Family Members; Prince William, Kate Most Liked: Poll

Meghan Markle is near the bottom of the list when it comes to the most liked members of the royal family, a new poll has showed.

In a survey of 2,000 people conducted by British tabloid The Sun, the 41-year-old Duchess of Sussex was ranked No. 8 for most admired royals with only 9% of votes. Her husband Prince Harry came in fifth place with 16%.

However, Markle still has more public support than another senior royal, Prince Edward, who was 10th, according to the poll results.

Prince William, 40, and his wife Kate Middleton, 40, proved their popularity by topping the list, garnering 23% and 20% of votes, respectively. King Charles III ranked third with 19%.

The Duchess of Sussex, however, remains popular among younger Brits despite her and Prince Harry, 38, quitting royal duties and moving to California in 2020, according to the survey.

Markle was the second-most admired royal for the 18 to 24 age group among poll respondents. Only her husband ranked higher, with 29% of the 18 to 24 group choosing the Duke of Sussex.

The newly crowned Prince and Princess of Wales almost dominated the rest of the age brackets. According to the poll, Prince William is the most admired member of the royal family among British people aged 25-34, 34-44, 45-54 and 65 and older, with Middleton ranking either second or third in all the age groups.

When asked if Prince Harry and Markle should return as working royals, 40% of respondents were not in favor, while 30% agreed. The rest were uncertain.

Queen Elizabeth II's recent funeral ceremonies reunited Prince Harry and Markle with the the royal family in the U.K. amid ongoing tension, which worsened due to the couple's claims of racism and lack of support from the firm during an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year.

In the poll, respondents were also asked if their perception of Prince Harry had changed following his presence at the Queen's funeral, and only 19% said that there was an improvement. Around 19% said that it had worsened, while the rest said that it did not change.

After King Charles III ascended to the throne following the death of his mother on Sept. 8, Prince Harry and Markle were demoted on the royal family's official website, where their pages now sit below those of Princess Alexandra, Prince Richard, and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.

Until recently, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been placed midway into the rankings below the senior royal members, but they are now seen alongside Prince Andrew, who was placed at the bottom.

Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie-Christine, who are non-working royals, have been removed entirely from the page.

The rearrangement came amid rumors that the King plans to slim down the monarchy and elevate the status of those who support the monarch in his duties, The Telegraph reported.

Following the Queen's funeral on Sept. 19, Prince Harry and Markle flew back to California barely on speaking terms with several members of the royal family, according to the outlet.

There was reportedly a "lack of communication" between Buckingham Palace and the couple's office, and this may be to blame for the mistaken invitation to a state reception, confusion over military uniforms and the differing versions of how and when Prince Harry learned of his grandmother's death, the outlet claimed.

Amid the tension, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also still waiting for the King's announcement on whether their children, 3-year-old son Archie and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet, will be able to use the titles prince and princess, which should have been automatically bestowed upon the Queen's death.

The Sun's poll also touched on the public's opinion on whether or not Prince Harry and Markle's kids should become prince and princess. The majority, or 40%, were in favor of it, while 30% were not. The rest had no opinion.

Archie and Lilibet's titles have yet to be updated on the royal family's website.