Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could help their public image by seemingly giving King Charles III’s olive branch news week‘S The Royal Report podcast.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed last week that their children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, have been eligible as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet since the day their grandfather, King Charles, became monarch last September to be known.
The couple first used the title on March 8 and announced through a spokesperson that “Princess Lilibet” had been baptized at a private service in California.
There was widespread debate and speculation as to whether and when Archie and Lilibet could use these titles, with some commentators suggesting that the king would ultimately have a say in the matter.
Following the announcement of the Sussexes’ christening, Buckingham Palace told the press that they were updating their official websites to reflect the new titles. Not all royals who are princes and princesses are known as such. Other members of the royal family, such as Prince Edward’s children, legally have their prince and princess titles but choose not to use them.
“I think that’s a good sign,” Royals chief correspondent Jack Royston said of the title decision The Royal Reportsuggesting that this could be a positive step in bridging the well-documented fractured relationship between Harry and King Charles.
“One could interpret it as an olive branch that this kind of disinheritance was not performed on Archie and Lilibet […] Obviously they don’t have security, but they are prince and princess now.”
“I wonder if a mutual olive branch from Harry and Meghan might actually help ease some of the fatigue I think the American public is feeling about the negative aspects of Harry and Meghan?” he asked.
“In other words, if it’s a good thing and a positive thing that they got those titles, such a positive thing that you want to announce it publicly for people to know, then there’s no point in actually doing it.” say something positive about it? For example, to explain why you decided to use the titles?”
Since announcing that the couple would use their children’s titles, which they described as “birthright,” there has been debate as to why they would do so, given their repeated criticism of the monarchy and Meghan’s comment on Oprah Winfrey that the title came with negative ones aspects are connected.
“I just think it’s an opportunity to say something positive, to kind of deliver the other side of the story, another narrative beyond the negative,” he added.
Over the past few months, Harry and Meghan have seen their net approval rating steadily decline in both the US and UK. This has dropped dramatically with the release of each of the couple’s recent bombshell media projects.
Data collected by strategists Redfield & Wilton revealed that between November 2022 and March 2023 in the UK, Prince Harry’s net approval rating fell by 37 points and now stands at -22. Meghan’s has also seen a 31-point drop, giving her a net approval rating of -33.
The data tells a similar story among Americans, whose popularity in the States is at an all-time low.
In February, Harry’s US net approval rating was -10 and Meghan’s -17. That’s a dramatic drop from +38 for Harry in December 2022 and +23 for Meghan.
This puts the couple at an important crossroads in rebuilding their popularity with the public, and Lilibet’s christening, Royston says, could have been an excellent opportunity to earn some goodwill.
“There’s a growing feeling in the American media now, especially among comedians, that Harry and Meghan, you know, some people use the term ‘professional victims,’ that they complain a lot. So why not something new? ” he noticed.
“Why don’t you give us something else? Why don’t you say something positive? Why don’t you explain why you use these titles? Why do you think it’s a positive thing? And yes, I think that would help them. I don’t think it would be viewed as a bad thing. I think it would actually help provide an antidote to the relentless negativity.
Harry and Meghan could reunite with the British royal family in May for the coronation of King Charles, which would mark their first return to the country since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the funeral events.
A spokesman for the couple confirmed earlier this month that they had been approached by Charles’ office about the coronation arrangements. The May 6 date is also an important milestone for the couple for another reason, it also marks their son Archie’s fourth birthday.
Harry and Meghan have not yet confirmed if they will be traveling to the UK for the celebrations.
James Crawford-Smith is latestpagenews’s royal reporter in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on latestpagenews’s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced Royal Correspondents to answer? Email royals@latestpagenews.com. We’d love to hear from you.
