'Nearly half the public think Meghan Markle has been bad for royal family'

26 October 2019, 09:34

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pictured together this week at a talk on gender equality at Windsor Castle. Picture: PA

By Asher McShane

Fifty-five per cent of the public believe Meghan Markle has been good for the Royal Family, while 45 per cent disagree, according to a survey for Tatler magazine.

Thirty nine per cent of people said they thought Meghan was hypocritical on environmental issues, the poll found.

The duke and his wife have faced criticism after taking a number of private jet journeys over the summer, apparently at odds with their views on supporting the environment.

Meghan has altered the usual course of royal life since marrying the Duke of Sussex in May last year, campaigning for women's empowerment and environmental conservation.

Tatler and ComRes surveyed 2,016 British adults between September 6 and 8, with results weighted to be demographically representative of all adults in Great Britain. Only 54% of respondents expressed an opinion on the question about whether Meghan has been good for the royals.

The survey also suggests that 44% prefer the Duchess of Cambridge to Meghan while 23% believe Meghan and Harry would be better off moving to Los Angeles.

And 40% of those polled believe the media treat Meghan unfairly while 27% think that is driven by racism.

High society publication Tatler's 310th anniversary December issue features an archive photo of Meghan, taken by Janick Laurent, on the cover.

It debates "The Meghan issue", with the cover headline asking "Does she conquer or divide?" and writers such as Lionel Shriver and Lynn Barber "taking sides".

The special edition of Tatler is available on news stands and via digital download on Thursday October 31.