Prince Harry’s standing with the British public has shown signs of improvement after years of falling approval ratings, with his recent efforts to rebuild his relationship with King Charles appearing to coincide with a modest rise in favourability.

The Duke of Sussex has remained one of the more divisive members of the Royal Family since he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California.

Harry’s Popularity Fell Sharply After Megxit

A YouGov survey conducted in January 2020, shortly after Harry and Meghan announced their change in royal status, found that Harry’s favourability had dropped to 55 percent. Just two months earlier, in November 2019, his rating stood at 72 percent.

His popularity continued to decline over the following years. In January 2023, shortly after the publication of his memoir Spare, Harry reached his lowest recorded favourability rating, at just 24 percent.

The decline came amid a series of highly publicized criticisms of the Royal Family following his and Meghan’s departure.

The couple discussed their experiences as senior royals during their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, followed by their Netflix documentary series in 2022. Harry then detailed further aspects of his relationship with the Royal Family in his memoir the following year.

A Small But Notable Rise

Harry’s numbers have remained challenging, but recent polling suggests his standing with the British public may now be moving in the opposite direction.

YouGov’s latest poll, conducted in July, came shortly after Harry reunited with King Charles during a private meeting at Highgrove.

Harry was in the UK to promote the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, also attended the private family meeting, marking the first time the King had seen his grandchildren since 2022.

Buckingham Palace did not release photographs or details of the reunion.

Following the meeting, Harry’s favourability increased from 30 percent in the previous April poll to 33 percent in July. His approval rating has now risen by six percentage points since the May 2025 poll.

However, the majority of respondents still viewed him negatively, with 58 percent expressing an unfavourable opinion and nine percent saying they did not know.

Could the Invictus Games Change Things Further?

Harry’s improving numbers come as reports suggest he hopes to make his appearance at next year’s Invictus Games particularly significant.

The Duke is reportedly hoping to appear publicly alongside King Charles at the Birmingham Games. Organisers are planning to invite the monarch to either the opening or closing ceremony, as well as to sporting events where he could meet competitors.

A public appearance together could potentially give Harry another boost with the British public, although some royal critics continue to argue that he should have no role in royal affairs after stepping away from his duties.

A royal source said Harry had particularly enjoyed his recent time in the UK and the opportunity to spend time with his father alongside Meghan and their children.

The source said the past few years had been “incredibly emotional” for Harry and suggested he now wants to visit Britain more often and rebuild his family relationships.

If Charles were to attend the Invictus Games and appear publicly with his son, the source described it as a potentially significant moment for the family.

Harry is said to want the Birmingham Games to be the best yet, with having his family around him — including the King — making the occasion even more meaningful.

The source added that Harry has previously expressed his desire for reconciliation and is therefore determined to repair those relationships without doing anything that could undermine the progress he has made.