Meghan Markle's popularity in the U.S. is surging as she prepares to launch her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, according to exclusive polling for Newsweek.
The Duchess of Sussex was liked by 36 percent of adults and disliked by 24 percent giving her net approval rating of plus 12, equal to King Charles III's.
This marks a sharp increase compared to February when she was viewed favorably by just 31 percent and unfavorably by 30 percent, putting her on plus one.
The Suits star has long lagged behind Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry in the U.S. opinion polls, despite being an American citizen, and she continues to do so.
However, the polling bump will be welcome as she is on the cusp of a major chapter in her new look American career.
The duchess has already soft launched American Riviera Orchard, her new lifestyle brand, and is expected to move to a full launch very soon.
It will represent something of a new direction after mixed results from her initial move into the world of TV producing and podcasting.
Her Netflix children's animation, Pearl, was axed before it was finished and a Spotify deal collapsed after just one series of her podcast, Archetypes.
On the other hand, their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan was highly commercially successful, despite earning some searing criticism from reviewers.
Following the poll boost, Meghan is now once again as popular in America as King Charles III, who was liked by 31 percent and disliked by 19 percent, also giving him a net approval of plus 12.
Kate, however, remains America's favorite royal a little more than a month after she announced her cancer diagnosis.
She was viewed positively by 45 percent and negatively by 13 percent of U.S. adults giving her a net approval rating of plus 32. This represented a drop of three points compared to February, when she was on plus 35.
Prince William was not far behind after 40 percent said they liked him and 12 percent said they disliked him, giving him a net approval rating of plus 28, a similar three-point drop compared to his plus 31 in February.
And Prince Harry was viewed favorably by 42 precent and unfavorably by 18 percent putting him on +24. Again, this was a small drop of two points compared to February.
The duke also has new projects coming out, including a Netflix show about polo, a sport he has played for much of his life, including in the past with William and Charles.
At the same time, America witnessed feverish speculation about Princess Kate's health in late February and much of March, culminating in the announcement on March 22 of her cancer.
Redfield & Wilton polled 1,500 U.S. eligible voters on May 1 on behalf of Newsweek to determine public attitudes to the British royals.
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
