MEGHAN & Harry's star appeal is fading after a string of negative press and controversies, a new poll has suggested.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be returning to Britain together next month for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
But they have been banned from the balcony for the traditional Trooping the Colour RAF flypast, along with shamed Prince Andrew.
The royal balcony snub means only working members of the Royal Family will wave to crowds on The Mall as Her Majesty celebrates 70 years on the throne.
In a poll that ran from Saturday through to Monday morning, Express.co.uk asked: “Has Sussexes' star appeal been 'eroded' since they left the UK?”
Around 2,730 people cast their votes as Brits cast their vote on the popularity of the royal couple, who now live in California.
A staggering 98 per cent (2,687 people) said they believe Meghan and Harry’s star appeal has been “eroded” since they left the UK.
This is compared with just two per cent – or 40 people – who answered “no”, while a further three respondents said they did not know either way.
It comes as the Duke and Duchess are reportedly "excited and honoured" to attend the Jubilee- despite the news they will not be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the Queen, 96.
Read our Meghan Markle live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Harry and Meghan ‘concerned’ about Archie & Lilibet
Prince Harry and Meghan have revealed they are “concerned” about Archie and Lilibet being “digital experiments” in a “world of hatred and harm”.
It came as the Duke of Sussex today helped to launch an “online safety toolkit” for children.
Harry spoke at the online event titled Making Child Online Safety a Reality with young people around the world – and shared his fears in regard to his kids.
The Duke told those tuned in that he hopes 18-month-old Lilbet and Archie, three, will “never have to experience the internet as it exists now”.
The dad-of-two explained: “As parents, my wife and I are concerned about the next generation growing up in a world where they are treated as digital experiments for companies to make money and where things like hatred and harm are somehow normalised.”
It is not known whether Harry received a fee for his appearance, but experts have previously said they could be earning upwards of a million pounds per speech after they signed up with an elite agency.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Prince Philip went straight to the Queen to express his anger
According to a top Royal author, the late prince was "spitting blood" over Megxit
Upon finding out Harry and Meghan had 'quit' the Royal Family, Prince Philip reportedly told an aide "we were wrong about her all along" in reference to Meghan.
Christopher Andersen, author of Brothers and Wives: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan, said when the Queen's husband heard of what was going on he was "furious, deeply hurt, spitting blood."
The couple announced they were stepping back from being senior royals on Instagram.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan & Harry will be in UK for Jubilee – but we probably won't see much of them
Meghan and Harry are confirmed to attend the Jubilee Celebrations at the end of the month.
The Duke and Duchess will be in the UK along with their two children.
Though the rest of the family will be on the Buckingham Palace balcony, they along with Prince Andrew will be absent.
It's been suggested the Queen doesn't want them there as the presence of Meghan and Harry would "cause drama".
But it's unlikely we'll see them throughout their entire visit as they're expected to keep a low profile.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan and Harry in UK for jubilee is for some 'good PR'
It would be hard to argue that things have been great for Harry and Meghan publicly of late.
It's been reported the two of them intend to use their trip here for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to win back some good favour.
Meghan's Netflix animation, Pearl, was very publicly dropped by the streaming giant, followed by the flop ad for Prince Harry's sustainable travel brand which branded him a hypocrite.
This all came after the prince reportedly warned his grandmother about the people she surrounds herself with, though he failed to attend Prince Philip's memorial service.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan and Harry push mental health agenda for children
The couple put out a statement at the same time as Kate and William.
This weekend, Sussexes confirmed they intend to assist new and expectant mothers in the US to be more financially stable.
On the same day, Kate and William issued a statement about loneliness and encouraging people to look after their mental health.
Now, Meghan and Harry are also talking about mental health, the place social media has in society, and the impact it has on users.
The Duke reportedly said social media "isn't working and needs to be fixed" and hopes his children "never have to experience the online world as it is right now"
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Why was Meghan mentioned by Serbia in the Eurovision?
You may remember the Serbian entry, Konstrakta, as the ones who were washing their hands.
The beginning of the song starts off talking about the state of Meghan Markle's hair.
The song is reportedly about wellness tips and the advice we receive from celebrities touting themselves as experts.
If, however, you are after hair like Meghan, Hello! shared the products straight from her hairstylist.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Good morning! It's Ije Teunissen-Oligboh here bringing you the latest on all things Meghan today.
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan & Harry ‘need to top up brand' through Royal Family
A PR expert has said that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry “need to top up their brand with a little bit of royalty”, following the news they will return to Britain for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Pauline Maclaran, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Research at Royal Holloway, said Harry and Meghan need to maintain their royal connections so their brand in the US has a “competitive edge”.
The PR expert told Express.co.uk: “I think they really need to top up their brand with a little bit of royalty and reinforce their connections.
“Of course, there are the family connections too and I’m sure the families do want some kind of reconciliation.
“But I can’t help but think Harry and Meghan are definitely trying to reinforce their brand with the royal connections and being part of these very crucial celebrations.
“If Harry and Megan don’t keep up the royal connections then really their brand in the US has not got a competitive edge to differentiate them more strongly from other celebrities.”
- Joseph Gamp
Around 70 aircraft to take part in Platinum Jubilee flypast
A six-minute flypast of more than 70 aircraft will complete the Queen's birthday parade as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Dozens of aircraft from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force will soar over Buckingham Palace on Thursday June 2, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The Queen is expected to watch the flypast from the palace balcony with other members of the royal family.
The monarch has limited the Trooping The Colour balcony appearance to working members of her family, with the Duke of York and Duke and Duchess of Sussex missing out.
Although they will not be on the balcony, Harry, Meghan and their children will attend the celebrations, but it is not known which elements of the four-day Jubilee weekend they could make an appearance at.
Joining the Queen on the balcony for Trooping The Colour will be the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Also set to appear for the historic occasion will be Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and the Wessexes' children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry and Meghan revealed they don’t want to stand on the Royal Balcony
The Queen has said only senior Royals are allowed to stand on the Royal Balcony for the Trooping of the Colour.
According the The Mirror, an insider source said that Prince Harry and Meghan originally did not want to stand on the Royal Balcony with the rest of the family.
Allegedly they weren’t axed from the guestlist, the requested not to be involved with the ceremony.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan’s announcement outshone by Kate and William
Meghan and Harry confirm another new venture in the US.
The couple hope to work to increase financial support for new and expectant mothers in the US.
Meghan‘s statement read “Families everywhere, and especially working moms, are asked to shoulder so much.
“Today, we’re sending a message that childcare isn’t just a community imperative — it’s a business imperative. Creating a stronger workforce starts with meeting the needs of families.”
But the William and Kate also shared a statement today raising awareness for mental health. In their joint statement, they said: “We can all feel lonely sometimes… we can feel it for many different reasons.
“If you think someone you know might be feeling lonely, just give them a ring, send them a text or knock on the door.”
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Harry and Meghan still trying to make a life in California
While the Sussexes left the UK a long time ago, they haven’t yet settled into life on the West Coast.
When Meghan and Harry first moved back to the US, they were given a place to stay by friend and award winning director, Tyler Perry
Since then, the pandemic hit and Meghan got pregnant again before giving birth to Lilibet.
Now, a family of four, the Sussexes reportedly have yet t o find their footing.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
‘Didn’t want to be on the balcony anyway’
It’s been confirmed the Duke and Duchess will be in the UK for the Queen’s jubilee celebrations.
Both Lilibet and Archie will be coming to the UK with their parents Meghan and Harry, but none of the family will be on the balcony during the Queen’s jubilee celebrations.
Along with Prince Andrew, the Sussexes are no longer main royals and so won’t appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the rest of the family.
But according to the Daily Mail, a friend and biographer of the pair, Omid Scobie, claims they didn’t want to be on the balcony anyway: “Prince Harry had already spoken with his grandmother about the possibility of not attending Trooping the Colour long before last week’s announcements.”
He reportedly said Harry is keen to attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, though.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan and Harry continue to show off their polo-fashion
The conversation of whether Meghan and Harry should or will return to the UK goes on.
While Harry is reportedly considering spending more time in the UK, his lifestyle with Meghan appears to be somewhat freeing.
Members of the Royal Family are expected to follow certain protocol for many things including the way they dress.
But Meghan has thrown caution to the wind as she attends yet another game of polo with her husband, Prince Harry, wearing little shorts. And social media users are in support.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
A very British first birthday for Lilibet
It’s possible Lilibet will be celebrating her first birthday in the UK.
Lilibet, the first daughter and last-born child of Harry and Meghan turns 1-year-old on 4 June.
The couple intend to be in the UK for the Queen‘s platinum jubilee celebrations which will be on the weekend prior.
It’s reported Afternoon Tea is the theme for the Queen’s great-granddaughter after whom she’s named.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Piers taunted by Denise Welch with a picture of Meghan
Piers Morgan’s been vocal about the end of his friendship with Meghan Markle.
During the pandemic though, Morgan and loose woman, Denise Welch, first came to blows when Morgan mentioned her name when talking about ‘covid deniers’.
At the time, he said: “Dumb, deluded and dangerous Covid-deniers like Denise Welch need to stop being given air time.”
Since then, the two have been at odds leading Welch to taunt Piers today on Loose Women with a picture of her with Meghan Markle.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Harry’s memoir is unlikely to be scathing
This Autumn is expected to bring us some interesting reads.
Prince Harry‘s autobiography is set to be released later this year in October or November.
It’s reportedly been expected to include damning details of the royal family, leaving many of them hot and bothered in anticipation.
But we’re now told it’s unlikely for it to be as scathing as we might expect.
Kinsey Schofield told the Express: “I am certainly surprised by the decision and it makes me feel like Prince Harry’s book isn’t the scathing tell-all we feared.”
She went on: “Perhaps it’s just a book about a man who learned to live and love after the death of his mother. I’ve always hoped that it was more of a motivational book than a hit piece.”
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan Markle dismisses half-sister’s claims
Markle’s half-sister has been very vocal about her dislike of the duchess.
Samantha Markle, the older half-sister of Meghan Markle, filed a defamation lawsuit earlier in the year.
The 57-year old filed in her complaint on March 3, that Meghan allegedly “published and disseminated false and malicious lies designed to destroy [her] reputation.”
On Friday, Meghan’s team filed a motion to dismiss the case.
It’s been reported Samantha Markle’s former legal team dropped her but she’s since been taken on by a new legal firm, the Ticktin Law Group. It is currently representing former US president Donald Trump.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Is it odd that we don’t see Lilibet and Archie?
The Sussexes rarely have their children out in public.
Some wonder why we don’t get to see Lilibet and Archie and suggest their absence from the public eye is odd, but it seems to be more of a problem in the US.
Royally Us host, Christina Garibaldi spoke about Meghan and Harry being choosy with what they share.
She said: “they’re [Harry and Meghan] very protective of their children, which I totally understand, but if you are gonna give us some of that, shouldn’t you give us a little bit of that””
Lida Citroen agreed: “It feels odd in this country [the US] when our kids are all over social media, in the most part.
“We’d love to see them as a family”
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
A very British first birthday for Lilibet
It’s possible Lilibet will be celebrating her first birthday in the UK.
Lilibet, the first daughter and last-born child of Harry and Meghan turns 1-year-old on 4 June.
The couple intend to be in the UK for the Queen‘s platinum jubilee celebrations which will be on the weekend prior.
It’s reported Afternoon Tea is the theme for the Queen’s great-granddaughter after whom she’s named.
- Ije Teunissen-Oligboh
Meghan and Harry ‘would never shine’ in UK
A royal commentator has claimed that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry would “never shine” as full-time working members of the Royal Family.
This would be down to the Firm’s structure.
Royal author Ian Lloyd, the author of the biography ‘The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II’, told Express.co.uk: “The problem with being the second is that you grow up with your sibling and you are equal – Diana treated Harry and William as equals, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth treated Elizabeth and Margaret like equals when they were children.
“But then what happens is that when the older one becomes sovereign or the heir it feels the second sibling more or less disappears.”
Speaking about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s possible future position within the Firm, Lloyd added: “There is no obvious role and I think Meghan thought she could come in and make a role and sort of take on the Royal Family but the Palace and the organisation won’t do that.
“They only ever support the heir and spare, so Meghan and Harry would never shine in this country.”
- Louis Allwood
Harry and Meghan ‘concerned’ about Archie & Lilibet
Prince Harry and Meghan have revealed they are “concerned” about Archie and Lilibet being “digital experiments” in a “world of hatred and harm”.
It came as the Duke of Sussex today helped to launch an “online safety toolkit” for children.
Harry spoke at the online event titled Making Child Online Safety a Reality with young people around the world – and shared his fears in regard to his kids.
The Duke told those tuned in that he hopes 18-month-old Lilbet and Archie, three, will “never have to experience the internet as it exists now”.
The dad-of-two explained: “As parents, my wife and I are concerned about the next generation growing up in a world where they are treated as digital experiments for companies to make money and where things like hatred and harm are somehow normalised.”
It is not known whether Harry received a fee for his appearance, but experts have previously said they could be earning upwards of a million pounds per speech after they signed up with an elite agency.
- Louis Allwood
Queen fights back tears as she watches granddaughter’s touching tribute
The Queen appeared to fight back tears as she watched her granddaughter’s touching tribute to Prince Philip at the Platinum Jubilee.
The monarch was treated to a spectacular night of performances on Sunday to mark her historic Platinum Jubilee.
While the 96-year-old smiled and enjoyed much of the show, she had a noticeable sombre moment when her 18-year-old granddaughter Lady Louise drove Philip’s carriage around the arena.
Lady Louise, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, took part in the grand finale of the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
The Queen’s eyes glistened with tears as she watched the procession, which had become a favourite pastime of her late husband, who died last year at the age of 99.
Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, represented Britain at several world and European carriage driving championships during his lifetime after he stopped playing polo.
- Louis Allwood
Prince William booed by FA CUp fans left the prince in tears
A surprising moment during the FA Cup Final saw the Prince booed as he took to the pitch.
Prince William, who is the president of The FA (football association), took to the pitch to greet and shake hands with the players but was met with jeering and boos.
The final took place at Wembley between Chelsea and Liverpool football clubs.
It’s not clear why people took to booing, but it continued throughout the national anthem and the Christian hymn, Abide With Me.
The Duke of Cambridge was later seen wiping his face, seemingly brought to tears by the incident.
- Louis Allwood
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s luxury California mansion DOUBLES in value
Prince Harry and Meghan have earned a staggering £12 million in the past two years – by doing nothing more than staying at home.
Their luxury Montecito mansion, which they bought for £11.93 million ($14.6 million) in June 2020, has more than doubled in value in only 23 months.
The 18,671 sq ft home in oceanside Montecito, which boasts nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, is now valued at £23,960,720 ($29,350,320) million by property website Redfin – meaning Meghan and Harry would make £12 million if they sold today.
Rival website Zillow puts the value of Harry and Meghan’s home at £21.6 million ($26,485,500), but claim it could fetch as much as £30 million ($36.81m)
Sitting on 7.4 acres with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, their home in the exclusive celebrity enclave boasts a private cinema, gym, spa and wine cellar.
It has a pub games room, swimming pool and separate guesthouse where Meghan’s mother Doria stays when she visits from her home in Los Angeles, 90 miles to the south of Montecito.
"Property prices have soared in the past 18 months, and show no sign of stopping," a local luxury estate agent told The Sun.
"Harry and Meghan only had to sit back and watch their home’s value sky-rocket."
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