Meghan Markle has jumped 11 points in new polling data partially recovering from a major slump in her U. S. popularity during the first half of 2025. The Duchess of Sussex crashed 13 points during two quarters, according to ratings data from YouGov, but in the autumn she has faired a little better. YouGov ratings uses an unconventional approach to market research, collecting survey answers on a rolling basis throughout the year, rather than all in one go across a few days. It then gathers the data in three month groupings which it publishes quarterly. Other methodologies will produce different results. What to Know Meghan was liked by 37 percent and disliked by 22 percent of American adults in the latest quarterly YouGov Ratings data, while 80 percent said they had heard of her. That gives her a net approval rating of plus 15 points with U. S. adults. The duchess began 2025 liked by 43 percent of Americans and disliked by 21 percent, with a net approval rating of plus 22. But she shed 13 points over the next two quarters leaving her at 30 percent by the beginning of July, when almost 26 percent disliked her. That marked her lowest score on YouGov Ratings since she moved to America in 2020 and gave her a net approval rating of plus four, which is 18 points below where she started the year and 11 points below where is now. That is tricky for Meghan since the period in question covered the launch of her With Love, Meghan Netflix show, a new Lemonada Media podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder and her shop As Ever. However, the new data for the three months ending in October tells a more positive story with Meghan’s seven point bounce taking her back to where she was in April, part way through her 2025 decline. Meghan’s 2025 Rebrand Prince Harry and Meghan’s early post-royal careers were defined by bombshell interviews in which they heaped criticism on the royal family, including for not doing more to support Meghan during a period of intense emotional struggle. Meghan also accused an unnamed royal of raising “concerns and conversations” about how dark her unborn child’s skin might be during their Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021. However, by the start of 2023, American public opinion began turning hard against that narrative, with major U. S. magazines like Variety suggesting they were becoming one trick ponies. Newsweek commissioned polling from Redfield & Wilton around this time which also recorded a major slump in their American popularity after Harry’s book Spare was released, though using the more conventional polling methodology. Ever since, Meghan has been on a quest to find a new niche with current efforts focused on lifestyle and business. Her online shop As Ever had a rocky start, with supply unable to keep pace with demand. Season one of With Love was also critically derided, including by reviewers who clearly sided with Meghan in her struggles with the royal family. However, by late summer As Ever had resolved its supply chain issues and also moved into wine. With Love also dropped its second season on Netflix and, while it did not exactly receive glowing praise, the reviewers who criticized it first time around at least did not return for another bite of the cherry. It also covers the period when she renegotiated her Netflix deal, sparking debate about whether the new terms were a win or a loss for the duke and duchess. They now have a “first look deal” which gives Netflix first refusal on new projects but will likely lead to them getting less money from the streamer. Some couched it as a downgrade while Nick Ede, a U. K. brand and culture expert, told Newsweek some form of downgrade was inevitable and they had done well to hold onto the partnership. “I see it as a win for Meghan and for Harry to have Netflix, it’s still one of the biggest outputters of entertainment, still backing them in this way,” he said. “They’re still going to have some of their office costs paid for and development costs paid for.” The latest YouGov Ratings data covers the three months up to October, suggesting this later period in Meghan’s relaunch landed better than her initial efforts.
https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/meghan-markle-popularity-surge-after-summer-slump-11063633
Meghan Markle Popularity Surge After Summer Slump
