Resurfaced Clip Shows the Exact Moment Harry and Meghan Realized the Public Had Turned On Them

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s popularity plunged after they stepped down as senior royals in 2020. While Harry has returned to the UK on many occasions for Invictus Games and to see his ailing father, Markle has visited only twice—for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and again for her memorial service that September. A resurfaced video of the same (from the Platinum Julibee event) shows the couple being loudly booed.

In their bombshell Oprah interview in March 2021 and the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess openly expressed their grievances against the royal family. According to the Daily Express, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield reflected on their dwindling reputation, opined that the backslash was “because their first strategy was to come out guns blazing and take down the British royal family." She stressed, "They signed contracts; they signed their souls away to Netflix, they signed their souls away to Penguin Random House.” Royal expert Richard Kay also spoke to the Daily Mail about the public’s distrust of them. He slammed, "Rather than stay and use her undoubted talents as a force for change, they chose to abandon his heritage and his birthright for the riches of celebrity and life in California.”

The unearthed video, from Harry and Markle's first visit back since stepdown, went viral on X (formerly Twitter). Commenting on the same, a netizen opined, “Now she knows how we all really feel about her, when she disrespected our Queen, she disrespected us all, we, the British will never forgive.” Another netizen chimed, “And again Meghan acts like she doesn't care if people are booing.” In a similar vein, another noted, “How can anyone look so conceited when people are booing? It's insane.”

While some users ridiculed the couple for getting booed publicly, others took a shot at their outfit choice for the event. A netizen quipped, “I’ve always been amused over her choice of a flimsy, see-through hat with that heavy outfit. Have never seen anyone get it SO wrong.” Another echoed, “That is one goofy outfit. Looks like the hat is going to take flight!” Chiming in, a netizen compared her to another US-born ex-royal divorcee. They said, "Copying Wallis Simpson, again."

As reported by The Mirror, the 2021 YouGov survey revealed that the once positive opinion of Harry has dropped from 43% in April that year to 34%. Similarly, Markle had a positive opinion rating of 26%. It had been 31% in March and 29% in April. YouGov also points out the couple's popularity has declined—a fallout from their interview with Oprah and their Netflix series.