Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, revealed a lot of alarming information in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday night on CBS. The following day, the internet was startled by the revelations which are very concerning.

Some of the most horrifying information includes how the royals declined to offer help to Meghan when she suffered from suicidal thoughts. The couple also shed light on Harry’s conversation with one family member who voiced concern about the darkness of his son’s skin color.

With this, Real Research conducted a survey to find out the public’s perception of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s revelations.

Highlights

  • Nearly 70% of the participants have heard about Oprah Winfrey’s interview with the British Royal Couple, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan.
  • The majority (31.15%) somewhat trust the assertions made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
  • Nearly 40% of the respondents agree that the interview has negatively affected the British Royal Family. Additionally, more than 35% of respondents note that their support for the British Royal family has diminished.
  • The results show that the majority are in favor of the couple being stripped of their titles. However, above 30% completely agree that the British government should pay for their security.
  • 44% of the respondents state that the British Monarchy should be abolished

Almost 70% of the Respondents Have Heard About the Interview

67.91% of the respondents revealed that they have heard about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex interview with Oprah Winfrey. The interview went viral internationally as Prince Harry and Meghan made allegations of racism in the royal family.

Harry and Meghan’s popularity diminished in the UK while it increased in the US and other parts of the globe. The two-hour interview, skillfully handled by the veteran broadcaster, has been so far watched by an estimated 50 million people across the globe. Hence the outcome that nearly 70% of the respondents are aware of the interview.

What increased Harry and Meghan’s popularity is that the world has been experiencing racial awakening calls in diverse countries. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also detailed a lack of support by the royal family for the duchess’s mental health issues and media intrusion.

The allegations of racism and lack of care in the British royal family came as dismaying, painful, and shocking. It, therefore, attracted much attention to people and governments across the globe.

Has Prince Harry and Meghan's Popularity Diminished - RR Survey
Figure 1: 67.91% have heard about the interview

The Majority (31.15%) Somewhat Trust the Assertions

The interview is playing out across front pages and TV screens across the globe. Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview, has brought divided opinions on families, communities, and even nations. The RR survey results reveal a slight difference between those who say somewhat trust (31.15%) and others voting for complete trust which has (28.66%).

30% people trust the British Royal Couple
Figure 2: Over 30% somewhat trust the British Royal Couple

Also, Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, are described as “private citizens” who were “sharing their own story in their own struggles”. Though some have complete trust others reveal the need for clarity on the allegations.

Nonetheless, above 20% of the participants in the RR survey responded they do not know if they trust them or not. The public opinion on Prince Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview has been met with mixed feelings. Many people await the response and action from the Queen of England and the British Royal family at large.

The Interview Affects the British Royal Family Negatively

Almost 40% of the respondents agree that the interview has negatively affected the British Royal Family.

The interview negatively affected the British Royal family
Figure 3: The interview negatively affected the British Royal family

It is undeniable that the interview has brought negativity towards the British Royal family. Not only to individuals but it has become a major concern even to organizations and governments across the globe. 39.96% agree that the interview negatively affected the British Royal Family. While 32. 32% do not know.

If the royal family is affected so does Harry and Megan’s popularity. Scandals that involve any monarchy attract more attention than those from non-royal households.

Public opinion on Prince Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview is that it somehow tarnished the image of the British Monarchy. In countries with historic ties to Britain, allegations by Prince Harry and Meghan have raised a thorny question.

Are most nations going to stay closely connected to Britain and its royal family anymore? Australia is considering cutting its constitutional ties to the British monarchy. It has already stoked discussion in Australia, part of the Commonwealth and where the queen is still head of state, over whether it is time for change

Additionally, the majority agree that the support for the British Royal family has diminished. The allegations of racism in the royal family that aired during Oprah’s interview will absolutely be an awkward obstacle for current British political relationships of all kinds and especially between the U.K. and countries dominated by people of color.

Prince Harry and Meghan Should be Stripped off Royal Titles

Aside from Harry and Meghan’s popularity the public strongly thinks that they should be stripped of their titles. 30.63% completely agree that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should just be called Harry and Meghan.

Prince Harry, who is also Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, expressed his concern over the family’s reaction to the couple’s decision to step back from official duties. As they excluded themselves from royal duties, they are no longer part of the British royal family routine. Thus, they cannot be given titles.

30.63% say they should be stripped of royal titles
Figure 4: 30.63% say they should be stripped of royal titles

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke of the pressures of royal life during their interview with Oprah. They also mentioned that this prompted them to leave the UK. Again this move increased Harry and Megahan’s popularity not only in the UK but worldwide. Following then, the couple moved to California.

They expressed that they would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family. With all these decisions the majority think that the couple is no more attached to the royal family. Therefore, the majority expressed that they completely agree that the couple should be stripped of their titles. 22.99% somewhat agree on the issue. 

The British Government Should Pay For Their Security

The survey also asked the question of whether the British governments should pay for their security. Above 30% completely agree that the British government should pay for their security. Another question then arises. Who is then paying for Prince Harry and Meghan’s security if the British government is not paying for it?

RR Survey: British government should pay for security
Figure 5: British government should pay for security

Prince Harry has expressed that his family cut him off financially at the beginning of last year and his father stopped taking his calls. If the prince has been cut off financially, who pays for Prince Harry and Meghan’s security while in Canada?

The Metropolitan Police, which protects the royal family around the globe, stopped providing security when the couple stepped down as working members while in Canada last spring. The U.S. government also said it will not pay for any of the couple’s security costs.

It is alleged that Prince Charles has actually been paying for their guards, at an estimated cost of £4 million a year. Though Harry and Meghan’s popularity is on the rise, their finances are still low.

Charles took over the security costs because Meghan and Harry wouldn’t otherwise be able to cover the expense. However, respondents think the British government should pay for their security. They remain British even outside Britain.

42.44% Say the British Monarchy Should be Abolished

Harry’s and Meghan’s break with the royal family and now a public airing of grievances also creates a rift of credibility and a red flag for monarchies everywhere.

RR Survey: The British monarchy should be abolished
Figure 6: The British monarchy should be abolished

22.19% said no the British monarchy should not be abolished. This is partly because The Royal Family has enduring importance in Britain. Over the past years, the Royals have been a key point of leadership. Also, great tourism is linked to royal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle adds up to 2.7+ million visitors a year. This means revenue for the country.

Conclusion

Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, has caused controversies across the globe.  Buckingham Palace finally broke its silence, saying it was saddened and concerned. Royal watchers say the foundations of the House of Windsor have been shaken, by these scandals and controversies. However, the family states it will solve the issue privately.

Methodology

Survey TitlePublic’s Perception on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
DurationMarch 13 – 15, 2021
Number of Participants350,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 19 to 60+
Participating CountriesAfghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, AzerbaijanBahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.