Kate Middleton has long been the undisputed queen of the public’s heart, but the latest royal popularity polls have just dropped a massive bombshell. The beloved Princess of Wales has officially been dethroned from her number-one spot as Britain’s favorite royal, and the person who took her crown is none other than her own husband, Prince William! Fans of the monarchy know that the Prince and Princess of Wales have a famously competitive streak, whether they are racing each other at sporting events or engaging in playful banter. Now, it seems that fierce rivalry has spilled over into the July 2026 YouGov favorability rankings, where William has managed to edge out his wife in a nail-bitingly close race to the top.

In a stunning victory, Prince William secured a staggering 76% favorable rating, allowing him to narrowly overtake Kate, who trailed just slightly behind with a highly impressive 74%. While the Waleses continue to dominate as the ultimate royal power couple, the rest of the list reveals some fascinating shifts in how the British public views the monarchy. Securing the bronze medal in third place is the famously hardworking Princess Anne, who earned a whopping 70% approval rating. Right behind her is King Charles, who has steadily maintained his footing since taking over royal duties following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022. The King claimed the fourth spot with a solid 62% positive rating, effectively doubling his 31% negative score. According to the data, a consistent 59% to 63% of British citizens have viewed the King favorably over the past two tumultuous years. Rounding out the upper middle tier are Prince Edward in fifth place with 53%, and Duchess Sophie securing the sixth spot with 51%.

However, as you move further down the list, the royal drama truly begins to reflect in the numbers. Queen Camilla emerged as one of the most polarizing figures in the poll, heavily dividing the public with a tight split of 43% in her favor and 44% against her. Meanwhile, across the pond, Prince Harry seems to be slowly repairing his public image, climbing to an approval rating of 33%—a notable six-point increase since May 2025. Following him are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who garnered 30% and 29% respectively. Unsurprisingly, the bottom of the barrel is reserved for the most controversial figures: Meghan Markle ranked second to last, holding only 22% of the public’s favor, while the disgraced Prince Andrew took a spectacular plunge to dead last, scraping by with a dismal 6%.

Source: Compiled from various sources