The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lost support in the US after the couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to a new poll.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan told Winfrey a member of the royal family was concerned about "how dark" their unborn son Archie's skin colour would be.
Meghan also said she suffered mental health issues during her time as a senior working royal in the UK but received no support from Buckingham Palace officials despite a request for help.
The poll, by YouGov US and The Economist, found the couple's popularity declined in the two weeks since the interview was broadcast.
Of the 1,400 polled, 54 per cent of respondents said they had a very or somewhat favourable opinion of Prince Harry, while 26 per cent had a very or somewhat unfavourable opinion of him, giving him a net score of 28.
The poll showed that 48 per cent of people had a very or somewhat favourable opinion of his wife Meghan, and 33 per cent had a very or somewhat unfavourable opinion of her, giving her a net score of 15.
The average scores for Harry and Meghan were both down more than 10 points from three weeks before the interview was broadcast, on February 17, when the duke had a net rating of 39 and the duchess scored 28.
In a separate UK poll published in the week after the interview, YouGov data showed that 45 per cent of British respondents had a positive opinion of Prince Harry, while 48 per cent regarded him negatively, giving him a net score of -3.
This represents a drop of 15 points from March 2, the first time British attitudes towards the prince are negative rather than positive.
Meghan's scores also fell considerably. Just 31 per cent have a positive opinion of her, while 58 per cent view her negatively.
This means the duchess has a net rating of -27, down from -14 in the week before the interview.
The UK poll showed public opinion of the duke and duchess was strongly associated with age.
A majority of people aged 18 to 24 support the duchess (55 per cent), while only a third (32 per cent) dislike her. The same is true for Harry, with three in five aged 18 to 24 (59 per cent) having a positive opinion of him, while only three in 10 (28 per cent) dislike him.
In contrast, most people aged 65 and older dislike Harry (69 per cent negative) and Meghan (83 per cent negative).
Despite the interview’s revelations, most people in Britain support the monarchy.
Queen Elizabeth II, who has been on the throne since 1952 and is now 94, is hugely popular.
An Ipsos Mori poll last week indicated that only 17 per cent of people believed the country would be better off without a monarchy.
After two days of crisis talks after the Winfrey interview went to air, Buckingham Palace said the issues raised would be dealt with privately by the royal family.
The monarch expressed her concern over allegations of racism and her sadness on learning exactly how challenging the couple had found life as working royals, although she said some recollections of events varied.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
