A summer reunion between King Charles and his youngest son has shifted public sentiment in Britain, where the Duke of Sussex posted his best poll results in months after bringing his family to the king’s countryside estate.

Prince Harry’s favourability climbed to 33 percent in a YouGov survey conducted July 21-22, marking a three-point gain from 30 percent recorded in late April. The quarterly tracker, which measures British attitudes toward the Royal Family, captured sentiment roughly 11 days after Harry’s July 10 visit with his father at Highgrove, the monarch’s private Gloucestershire residence.

Meghan Markle accompanied her husband, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, during the five-day trip to the country. The face-to-face encounter was the first time Charles had seen his California-based grandchildren in several years, royal observers noted.

Still, a majority of Britons continue to view Harry unfavourably. Fifty-eight percent held a negative opinion in the latest poll, down from 62 percent. Compared to last year’s figure of 27 percent, the Duke has gained six percentage points, though most respondents remain unconvinced.

Royal Family Ratings From Top to Bottom

King Charles notched his strongest performance since taking the throne, with 68 percent of respondents approving of his performance in the role. His personal favourability has ranged between 59 percent and 63 percent over the previous two years, the survey shows.

The Prince and Princess of Wales led all royals at 76 percent and 74 percent respectively, maintaining steady support across recent polling cycles. Princess Anne followed at 70 percent, cementing her status as the family’s most industrious member. Sophie and Prince Edward registered approval ratings of 51 percent and 53 percent respectively.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who have stayed out of the public eye for months, made their debut in this type of YouGov survey with 30 percent and 29 percent. Meghan Markle recorded 22 percent, a three-point increase. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, occupied the cellar at two percent, with 92 percent viewing him negatively. Public backing for the monarchy as an institution has remained largely unchanged throughout Charles’ reign, hovering near two-thirds support.

Signals of Reconciliation

Royal commentators linked Harry’s uptick directly to the Highgrove gathering. Tracy Schaverien, HELLO!’s royal contributor, said bringing Meghan and the children to the king’s estate demonstrated genuine intent to mend family ties.

The Duke has stated publicly that he sees no benefit in prolonged conflict and would welcome a reconciliation. His standing with the British public has declined steadily from 2017 onward, beginning when his engagement to Meghan was announced, and he stopped serving as a working royal in 2020.

The visit came amid difficult circumstances. Harry was recently defeated in his legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and other titles, and now confronts legal costs expected to run into the millions. Sources close to him described the Duke as maintaining a positive outlook despite the strain, which associates acknowledged had exacted a toll.

William’s Absence and a Frozen Relationship

Prince William did not attend the Highgrove meeting, and the brothers’ estrangement shows no sign of thawing. During the week of Harry’s visit, William visited the London Welsh School on Tuesday, traveled to Hastings on the south coast on Thursday, and appeared at Guards Polo Club in Windsor for The Royal Charity Polo Cup 2026 on Friday, just hours before news of the reunion became public.

Robert Jobson, author of the biography “The Windsor Legacy,” told Newsweek that William has no intention of reconciling, feeling betrayed and considering the matter finished. Ingrid Seward, author of “My Mother and I,” characterized William’s stance as complete disinterest.

Archie and Lilibet last spent substantial time with their grandfather during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, at ages three and one respectively. Whether the modest poll bounce endures—or whether it can withstand the financial consequences of Harry’s court defeat—remains to be seen.