Hard-working Princess Anne is crowned the nation’s most popular royal – overtaking the Prince and Princess of Wales for the top spot in latest YouGov poll results
Princess Anne has officially been crowned the nation’s most popular royal, overtaking the Prince and Princess of Wales for the esteemed top spot.
The Princess Royal, 76, has scored highest in YouGov’s third-quarter 2026 rankings, which saw respondents rank their favourite members of the British Royal Family.
According to the new findings, Anne is liked by 67 per cent of the nation and disliked by 7 per cent, giving her a net approval rating that is four points higher than Kate and ten points higher than William.
While the Waleses usually dominate the rankings, this time Kate scored a popularity rate of 64 per cent, while William reached 62 per cent. King Charles, meanwhile, was favoured by 53 per cent of respondents.
The Prince of Wales did, however, score most popular among millennials – his own age group – with 60 per cent favouring the future King. Among Generation X and women, Kate was ranked as most popular, while Anne topped the list for both men and Baby Boomers.
In fifth place overall was Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, who obtained a popularity ranking of 47 per cent and was followed closely by his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who scored 45 per cent.
Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall came in at seventh place, followed by Queen Camilla, while the Duke of Kent scored ninth with a favourability score of 30 per cent.
Prince Harry’s popularity saw a slight boost following his return to the UK from California in August, while Meghan’s witnessed a decline in comparison to January’s YouGov results.
Princess Anne has officially been crowned the nation’s most popular royal, with a 67 per cent favourability rating, according to YouGov’s most recent survey
Harry scored in tenth place and won over 29 per cent of respondents – coming in higher than both Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who were respectively ranked 14th and 11th. Meanwhile, his younger cousin Lady Louise Windsor was voted the 12th most popular royal.
In the first quarter, Harry scored 25 per cent positive and 54 per cent negative. However, the Duke’s results have vastly improved since he returned to Britain, with the figures changing to 29 per cent positive and 41 per cent negative.
The Duchess of Sussex, on the other hand, was liked by 22 per cent of respondents and disliked by 78 per cent. Unlike her husband, Meghan’s popularity scores were higher in the first quarter of the year, when just 47 per cent felt negatively about her while 26 per cent felt positively, giving her a net approval of minus 21.
In 18th place, Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, was favoured by just 11 per cent of the nation, while Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones came in 19th place with a favourability score of a mere 10 per cent.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, failed to appear in this year’s rankings at all, as the scandal surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein continues.
Anne has been widely renowned as the Firm’s hardest-working royal, adored for her quick wit and wonderful sense of humour – much like her late father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Last month, the Princess Royal received an honorary degree from the University of Lincoln in recognition of her contribution to public life and her support for both agriculture and rural communities.
During her visit to the Geothermal Glasshouse at the university’s Riseholme Campus, Anne learnt first-hand about the innovative work being undertaken at the £2.4million facility – which is powered by renewable geothermal ground-source heating.
The new glasshouse will enable university researchers and businesses to help develop new crops, technologies and growing systems, while also aiding efficient and sustainable food production.
The Waleses usually dominate the rankings, but this time Kate scored a popularity rating of 64 per cent, while William got 62 per cent, leaving them just behind the Princess Royal
Prince Harry’s popularity saw a slight boost following the Sussexes’ return to the UK in August, but Meghan’s declined. (Pictured in Nottingham on their first engagement since moving back)
Sporting a stylish pair of sunglasses, the Princess Royal was gifted a basket of strawberries as she learnt about the skills of strawberry pickers and the technology used to create 3D models of strawberry plants.
Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, described Anne’s visit as an ‘honour’, adding that the university were ‘particularly pleased to recognise Her Royal Highness’s extraordinary record of public service’.
Harry and Meghan’s changing poll results come as the couple made their first joint public appearance in Nottingham since returning to the UK – with the last being Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022.
Around 100 people, including a large number of schoolchildren, gathered to greet them as they began three quasi-royal engagements in the East Midlands on Thursday.
The Duchess of Sussex told the crowd ‘it’s great to be back’ as she was handed bouquets of flowers and balloons, while her husband placed a protective arm around her as they posed for selfies.
The pair are supporting several charities, including a community food project and a recording studio where Meghan will take part in an acting workshop.
Meghan and Harry excitedly chatted to well-wishers during the walkabout. They were greeted with cheers, whoops and shouts of ‘I love you, Meghan’ as they stepped out of their black Range Rover Sport 4×4.
One fan, who did not want to give her name, said: ‘I love the Royal Family. I was going to come shopping in town, so I thought I would come and try to see them.
‘I want Harry and Meghan to know we still love them. I’m so glad all these people have turned up.’
