Princess Anne has officially emerged as the most favorably rated senior British royal. She overtook both Prince William and Princess Kate in YouGov Ratings data for the third quarter of 2026. According to the quarterly polling figures, the Princess Royal achieved a net favorability score of plus 60. This placed her ahead of Princess Kate at plus 56 and Prince William at plus 50.
The latest rankings highlight contrasting shifts in public sentiment across the British monarchy. While William and Kate experienced minor declines in their public approval over the first three quarters of the year, Anne steadily gained support among the British public.
How Princess Anne Claimed the Top Spot
YouGov Ratings data tracks public opinion continuously throughout the year, presenting aggregated results on a quarterly basis. Princess Anne’s standing improved noticeably as the year progressed. During the first quarter of 2026, she was viewed positively by 62 percent of respondents and negatively by 7 percent, resulting in a net approval rating of plus 55.
By the third quarter, positive responses for the Princess Royal climbed to 67 percent. Negative responses remained steady at 7 percent. This pushed her net favorability score up to plus 60, positioning her four points ahead of Kate and 10 points ahead of William.
The Appeal of the Princess Royal
Princess Anne is known for her tireless work ethic and traditional approach to public service. She has long been considered one of the hardest-working members of the royal family. Observers note that her enduring popularity underscores public affection for senior working royals beyond the direct heirs to the throne.
Anne’s perspective on royal duties was highlighted in a previous interview with Vanity Fair. She reflected on generational shifts within the institution during the interview. “You don’t necessarily look at the previous generation and say, ‘oh, you did that?’ or, ‘you went there?’” Anne noted. “Nowadays they’re much more looking for ‘oh, let’s do it a new way’. And I’m already at the stage [of] ‘please do not reinvent that particular wheel. We’ve been there, done that. Some of these things don’t work. You may need to go back to basics.’”
Shifts in Ratings for the Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince William and Princess Kate dropped to second and third place in the latest YouGov rankings. However, they maintain exceptionally high overall approval ratings and deep public backing.
- Princess Kate: Began 2026 with a net rating of plus 65, which consisted of 75 percent positive and 10 percent negative feedback in the first quarter. By the third quarter, her favorability adjusted to 64 percent positive and 8 percent negative, yielding a net score of plus 56.
- Prince William: Started the year with a net approval in the plus 50 to plus 65 territory, which included 74 percent positive and 9 percent negative ratings in Q1. By the third quarter, positive responses registered at 62 percent and negative at 12 percent, landing his net score at plus 50.
Royal analysts point out that minor fluctuations in popularity are standard for members of the royal family. Kensington Palace faces little immediate concern as long as approval curves level out or rebound.
Broader Monarchy Approval Trends in 2026
Other senior members of the royal family also saw notable movements in public opinion over the course of the year. King Charles III experienced a significant boost in his polling numbers. His net approval rating climbed from plus 21 in the first quarter-comprising 47 percent positive and 26 percent negative responses-to plus 31 in the third quarter. This improvement was driven by 53 percent positive and 22 percent negative feedback.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle saw marginal shifts in their U.K. popularity following a return visit to Britain in August. Meghan’s net approval stood at minus 27 in the third quarter, based on 49 percent negative and 22 percent positive responses. This marked a recovery from a low of minus 43 in the second quarter. Prince Harry’s U.K. ratings improved gradually across the year, moving from minus 30 in the first quarter to minus 12 in the third quarter, though their overall popularity in Britain remains heavily negative.
Looking to the Future of the Monarchy
King Charles continues to pursue a streamlined version of the working royal family. As he does so, public polling remains a vital barometer for how the institution connects with the public. Discussions persist regarding the long-term future of the monarchy and its appeal to younger demographics. However, Princess Anne’s current standing demonstrates that traditional values and consistent public service continue to resonate deeply across Britain.
