Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint appearance in the UK this week since moving back (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped out in Nottingham on Thursday for some visits to local charities, and were met by very excited crowds. While the couple were reportedly nervous ahead of their first joint public appearance since relocating back to Britain, it seems that they had little to fear.
Instead of being booed like some may have anticipated, they were met with cheers, hugs, handshakes, selfie requests and flowers. The couple were also given gifts for their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
While on the surface it therefore seemed to be a success, it seems that some Brits have not changed their opinion of the duke and duchess. This has been revealed by the results of a Daily Express poll, which saw us ask our readers whether Harry and Meghan should make appearances around the UK.
The poll launched at 7am on October 15, the same day as Harry and Meghan’s Nottingham visit, and finished at 10am on October 17. The results showed that 95% voted no, meaning they don’t think Harry and Meghan should make appearances around the UK.
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A total of 4% of people said yes, they should. Only 1% said they don’t know.
This could be a blow for the couple, who, since their positive reception in Nottingham, may be excited to plan more joint appearances. It is not known when their next joint appearance will be.
Some Daily Express readers took to the comment section to share their views on the prospect of the non-working royal couple doing more appearances around the UK. One reader wrote: “I don’t know. I don’t think many people would actually want to see them.”
Someone else said: “If they came down my street? I would not bother to look.”
Meanwhile, others shared their view that it is perfectly acceptable if Harry and Meghan do want to make other UK public appearances. This is because they are private citizens and should be able to do what they want, especially when it comes to charity.
The duke and duchess were greeted by excited crowds on Thursday (Image: Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images)
One person wrote: “Why shouldn’t they visit charities? Why shouldn’t they be allowed to travel wherever they want?”
Another said: “Why not, they are free people.” Someone else commented: “They can go where they like.”
A friend of Harry and Meghan’s has told The Daily Mail that the couple are reportedly keen to win the support of the British public, which could see them carry out more public engagements.
The friend told Daily Mail’s Editor at Large Alison Boshoff: “They are making efforts to re-enter slowly with humility and hope to win support that way. There is no intention to thumb a nose at the King or cause irritation. This sort of work is what makes Harry happy, it is in his DNA. It is nothing to do with relations with the Royal Family.
“They can achieve great support for charities and intend to do so. There will be more days like [Thursday] going forward.”
Fresh Blow for Harry and Meghan as Britons Reveal Whether They Want More UK Appearances
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received a fresh setback in their efforts to rebuild their public image in Britain, after a poll of Daily Express readers revealed overwhelming opposition to the couple making more public appearances around the country.
The results emerged just days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the public stage together in Nottingham, where they visited community organisations and charities. Their appearance attracted cheering supporters, warm greetings and requests for photographs, providing a more welcoming reception than some observers had anticipated.
However, the reaction among readers of the Daily Express told a different story. In a poll conducted between October 15 and October 17, 2026, readers were asked whether Harry and Meghan should make appearances around the UK. According to the published results, 95 per cent voted against further appearances, four per cent supported them and one per cent said they did not know. <Cite refs={[“turn779633search0”]}/>
The figures represent a difficult headline for the couple as they seek to establish a new chapter of their lives in Britain. Yet the poll also raises an important question: does a negative response from a newspaper readership reflect the views of the entire country, or does it reveal only one part of a much wider debate?
A Nottingham Visit That Drew Attention
Harry and Meghan’s joint appearance in Nottingham on October 15 was their first public outing together in Britain since their reported return from the United States.
The city holds particular significance for the couple. In December 2017, shortly after announcing their engagement, they undertook one of their first joint public engagements there. Their latest visit therefore offered an opportunity to revisit familiar surroundings while supporting organisations working with young people and vulnerable communities.
Their programme included the Community Recording Studio, Himmah Hub and Epic Partners.
The Community Recording Studio uses music, performance and other activities to help young people develop confidence and practical skills. Himmah works to tackle food poverty, while Epic Partners provides support through sport, education and mentoring.
At the various stops, Harry and Meghan encountered supporters who welcomed them warmly. Some offered flowers and gifts, while others asked for photographs or greeted the duchess with hugs.
The couple also reunited with contributors to the charity cookbook Together, which Meghan supported in 2018 to raise funds for community work connected with the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
These encounters demonstrated that the Sussexes retain supporters in Britain, particularly among people who value their charitable activities.
Nevertheless, the subsequent poll highlighted a very different reaction among a group of readers who remain unconvinced that the couple should undertake more public appearances.
What the Poll Actually Revealed
The Daily Express reader poll was striking because of the size of the gap between those opposed to further appearances and those in favour.
With 95 per cent voting against, the result suggested that the newspaper’s participating readers were overwhelmingly reluctant to see Harry and Meghan undertake more public engagements around Britain.
Some respondents expressed indifference towards the prospect of encountering the couple in their local area. Others argued that the duke and duchess were private citizens and should be free to visit charities or travel wherever they wished.
That second response is significant. It suggests that opposition to the couple’s public profile does not necessarily mean that every critic believes they should be prevented from undertaking charitable work.
There is a distinction between questioning whether the Sussexes should receive the attention associated with royal engagements and arguing that they should not be permitted to appear in public.
Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family. Their visits are not official engagements carried out on behalf of the King, even though their titles and public profiles continue to attract considerable attention.
As private citizens, they can pursue charitable interests and professional activities, subject to the same applicable laws and arrangements as others.
The poll should also be interpreted carefully. It was a reader poll, rather than a representative survey of the British population. Its results cannot establish that 95 per cent of all Britons oppose further appearances.
A self-selecting online poll can attract people with particularly strong opinions, and the outcome may differ substantially from a survey using a representative sample.
Even with that qualification, the result provides a clear indication of the sentiment expressed by participating Daily Express readers.
Why Harry and Meghan Remain Controversial
The continuing division over the Sussexes can be traced back to their decision to step away from senior royal duties in 2020.
Harry and Meghan subsequently moved to California and pursued a different life, combining commercial projects, media work and charitable initiatives.
Their departure attracted enormous international attention. In the years that followed, interviews, documentary projects and Harry’s memoir brought their experiences of royal life into the public arena.
The couple have described difficulties within the institution and their relationship with other members of the Royal Family. Their accounts prompted debate about privacy, race, media treatment and the expectations placed on royal figures.
Some supporters believe Harry and Meghan were justified in speaking publicly about their experiences. They argue that leaving the institution allowed the couple to protect their independence and make decisions about their own family.
Critics, meanwhile, have accused them of prolonging family disagreements by discussing sensitive matters publicly. Others question the combination of royal titles, commercial activities and public appearances outside the official royal structure.
These competing interpretations have become central to the way the couple are received.
For supporters, their charitable work is an important part of their identity. For critics, it is difficult to separate those activities from the wider controversy surrounding their departure from royal duties.
As a result, even an appearance focused on community services can quickly become a debate about the monarchy and the couple’s place within British public life.
A Wider Survey Shows a More Complicated Picture
Although the Daily Express reader poll produced a strongly negative result, other polling suggests that British public opinion is more nuanced.
An Ipsos survey conducted between August 28 and August 31, 2026, interviewed a representative sample of 1,090 British adults aged 18 to 75. It found that 48 per cent neither supported nor opposed Harry and Meghan returning to live in the UK, while 29 per cent opposed their return and 18 per cent supported it. <Cite refs={[“turn779633search1”]}/>
Those figures concern the couple’s return to Britain rather than whether they should make additional public appearances, so they cannot be compared directly with the Daily Express reader poll. However, they illustrate the importance of distinguishing between different questions and different samples.
The Ipsos research also identified a generational divide. Among respondents aged 18 to 34, 32 per cent supported the couple returning to Britain. Among those aged 55 to 75, support stood at nine per cent. <Cite refs={[“turn779633search1”]}/>
The findings suggest that attitudes towards the Sussexes are influenced partly by age, although age alone does not determine an individual’s opinion.
They also show that uncertainty and indifference are important parts of the public response. Many people may have little interest in the couple’s personal decisions, even if their appearances attract substantial media coverage.
For Harry and Meghan, this distinction matters. Their public image may be strongly criticised in some sections of the media while remaining more complicated across the broader population.
The Question of Their Future Role
The couple’s return to Britain has prompted questions about what their future public activities might look like.
Harry has long been involved in charitable work, including the Invictus Games, which supports wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through sport. Meghan has pursued business projects alongside selected charitable initiatives.
Their Nottingham visit demonstrated that the couple can still attract attention to community organisations. For charities, that attention can provide an opportunity to raise awareness of their work and the challenges faced by the people they support.
However, the long-term value of a high-profile visit depends on more than the photographs or headlines it generates. The effectiveness of any partnership ultimately rests on the support provided, the organisation’s needs and the outcomes for the communities involved.
Meghan’s future schedule may also differ from Harry’s. ITV News reported on October 14 that a source described her priorities as including her family, lifestyle brand and a possible return to acting, with public appearances expected to be relatively rare. <Cite refs={[“turn779633search6”]}/>
That account suggests the couple may not necessarily pursue frequent joint appearances, regardless of the reaction to the latest poll.
Their professional interests are not identical, and their public activities do not have to follow the same pattern. Harry may continue to focus on philanthropic projects, while Meghan balances family commitments with business and entertainment opportunities.
Any future programme will likely depend on practical considerations, their individual priorities and the organisations they choose to support.
The Royal Family Question Remains
Another issue shaping public attitudes is the Sussexes’ relationship with the wider Royal Family.
Harry’s departure from official duties did not remove his place within the family, but it changed the nature of his public role. The King and other working royals continue to undertake official engagements, while Harry and Meghan operate independently.
For some critics, this arrangement creates confusion about the difference between private charitable visits and activities associated with the monarchy.
Supporters counter that the couple should not be prevented from helping charities simply because they are no longer working royals. They argue that their connections and public profiles can be useful when directed towards causes that need attention.
The debate also touches on questions about public money and security. High-profile public appearances can require careful planning, particularly when large crowds or potential security risks are involved. The arrangements for the Sussexes must be considered separately from the question of whether their visits are officially royal engagements.
These practical issues may influence the scale and frequency of future appearances, but the reader poll does not determine what the couple can legally do.
Nor does it establish whether the Royal Family itself wants them to undertake more public engagements. Public opinion, institutional policy and the couple’s personal decisions are separate matters.
A Setback, but Not the End of the Debate
The Daily Express poll provides an uncomfortable headline for Harry and Meghan. Its overwhelming result suggests that among participating readers, enthusiasm for more UK appearances is extremely limited.
Yet it would be misleading to treat that finding as a definitive verdict from the entire British public. Other research shows a mixture of opposition, support and indifference, with meaningful differences between age groups and between the questions being asked.
The Nottingham visit itself illustrated the contrast. The couple received warm greetings from supporters and engaged with organisations whose work they have supported, while subsequent coverage highlighted criticism of their wider public role.
Both reactions can exist at the same time.
For the Sussexes, the challenge will be to establish a sustainable approach to public life that serves their charitable interests without making every appearance a referendum on their relationship with the monarchy.
For critics, the question remains whether the couple’s activities should attract the same attention once associated with their official royal duties. For supporters, the focus is likely to remain on their freedom to work with charities and pursue independent projects.
The latest poll may therefore be a setback in the public-relations sense, but it does not settle the broader argument.
Harry and Meghan’s future in Britain will be shaped by their decisions, their relationships with the organisations they support, the practicalities of their lives and the reactions of people they encounter.
One reader poll can capture a moment of public sentiment. It cannot, by itself, determine the couple’s future or speak for every Briton.