Prince enjoys same global popularity as the Queen
HE MAY now only be sixth in line to the throne, but Prince Harry is outpacing all the Royal family bar the Queen on the world stage.
The Prince was named as the most popular member of “Team Windsor”, with nearly a quarter of people surveyed across 28 countries by Ipsos Mori naming him as their favourite.
The Queen enjoyed the same level of popularity, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, picked at number one by 17 and 18 per cent of people respectively.
The results of the global poll, which focused on adults under the age of 65, suggest Prince Harry and Ms Markle will be the most effective weapons against republicanism.
As soon as they are married, they are expected to join senior members of the Royal family on overseas tours, cementing affection for the monarchy around the world. Later this year, they are expected to make their first visit to the Netherlands, with unconfirmed proposals for a trip to Dublin, too.
A trip to the Netherlands, currently under discussion, would probably see the couple meeting King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and family, as well as visiting key sights and charities they support.
In October, they will visit Australia for the Invictus Games in Sydney, a trip which is likely to incorporate wider visits to Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand or Pacific Islands. Prince Harry has also been named as a Commonwealth youth ambassador.
Jason Knauf, Prince Harry’s press secretary, said during a briefing about the royal wedding this month: “You’ll be pleased to know they’re planning a lot of work to happen in the second part of the year, which is going to be incredibly busy.”
The Ipsos Mori survey, based on 20,793 interviews across 28 countries, found that the Prince was named the most-liked member of the Royal family in Britain and South Africa, at 42 per cent each, followed by Chile, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Germany and Argentina.
After Prince Harry and the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were most popular, chosen by 17 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. Their children George and Charlotte were picked by 10 per cent and nine per cent. Prince Charles, first in line to the throne, was chosen by eight per cent.
The Queen, who has now stepped back from overseas travel at 92, was most liked in 11 countries, including China, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Grandmother and grandson each received 23 per cent of the overall vote.
The Duchess of Cambridge is the most liked in the US, while her husband is the most popular in France.
Ipsos Mori said that individual members of the Royal family tend to be viewed more favourably than the monarchy as an institution, with 35 per cent of all respondents viewing it positively.
Meghan Markle, who was little known outside the US and Canada before her relationship with Prince Harry, has been warmly received so far, with 29 per cent feeling favourable towards her compared with just 10 per cent unfavourable. Around a quarter of people worldwide said they are at least “fairly interested” in the royal wedding, while 67 per cent are not.
Asked to pick from a list of attributes applied to the monarchy, nearly half plumped for “tradition” while only nine per cent chose “modern”: a perception Prince Harry and Ms Markle may yet change.
Gideon Skinner, from Ipsos Mori, said: “The Royal family’s international reputation is bolstered by the popularity of both the Queen and members of the younger generation, which gives it a solid foundation for the future, and reflects the growing profile they have around the world.”