Brits believe Prince and Princess of Wales are best placed to fly the flag for monarchy overseas

William and Kate arrived in Boston on Wednesday for a three-day visit before the Earthshot Prize, the prince's environmental awards ceremony, on Friday.
William and Kate arrived in Boston on Wednesday for a three-day visit before the Earthshot Prize, the prince's environmental awards ceremony, on Friday.
Chris Jackson
George McMillan

By George McMillan


Published: 02/12/2022

- 09:37

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:28

It comes as a welcome boost for William and Kate who were met with boos during their tour of the US earlier this week

Brits overwhelmingly believe the Prince and Princess of Wales are best placed to fly the flag for the monarchy overseas.

More than half of the public (56%) see William and Catherine as better adverts for the monarchy abroad, according to a GB News poll.


This compares to 8% who opted for King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, and 7% who selected Prince Harry and Meghan. The remaining 29% said they “didn’t know” or “preferred not to say”.

File photo dated 07/09/22 of King Charles III. Funds donated by the King will help hundreds of food banks and community groups across the UK to store more food by providing them with fridges and freezers. The white goods will be distributed to local charities, food banks and social pantries identified by the Felix Project in London and across the UK by The Trussell Trust, FareShare and British Asian Trust. Issue date: Friday December 2, 2022.
8% opted for King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla
Jane Barlow

The survey of 1,208 adults was carried out by PeoplePolling, a member of the British Polling Council (BPC) and comes as a welcome boost for William and Kate who were met with boos during their tour of the US earlier this week.

The release of Harry and Meghan's Netflix trailer has also led to claims of a widening rift between the two couples.

Commenting on the findings of the poll, Prof. Matt Goodwin said: “These numbers once again show that, as far as the British are concerned, Harry and Meghan are nowhere near as popular as Will and Kate. More than half the country see the Prince and Princess of Wales as the better advert for the monarchy while not even one in ten see Harry and Meghan the same way. King Charles III, who has opted for a slimmed-down monarchy, was clearly right to push forward Will and Kate”.

William and Kate are currently on a Royal Tour of the States.

But their first overseas trip since the Queen's death has been overshadowed by controversy at home.

William and Kate arrived in Boston on Wednesday for a three-day visit before the Earthshot Prize, the prince's environmental awards ceremony, on Friday.

Hours earlier, the prince's godmother resigned from her duties at Buckingham Palace after repeatedly asking a black visitor "where she really came from".

A Kensington Palace spokesman who spoke to William before he boarded his flight said Lady Susan Hussey's comments were "unacceptable" and that "racism has no place in our society".

He added that Lady Hussey, 83, was right to have stepped aside from her honorary role as Lady of the Household with immediate effect.

William focused on the Earthshot Prize as he greeted crowds in Boston, saying: "We are both looking forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change."

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving to view the messages and floral tributes left by members of the public at Windsor Castle in Berkshire following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. Picture date: Saturday September 10, 2022.
The release of Harry and Meghan's Netflix trailer has also led to claims of a widening rift between the two couples.
Chris Jackson

However, the royal couple sat through an awkward lecture on race equality by a black reverend as she opened the prince's awards at the City Hall Plaza.

Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, the city's chief of environment, energy and open space, urged the audience to "consider the legacy of colonialism and racism".

"The ways it has impacted people across the world, and its connection, its deep connection to the degradation of land and our planet that we are all seeking to reverse," she said.

"The stories lost, the species made extinct, but also the persistence of people in the face of oppression and the fundamental dignity of all of our relations."

She added that under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston had committed to addressing climate change "in a way that has justice at its core".

"Justice for our environment, for our workers and for all residents regardless of race and economic status," she said.

"We are leading the change to mitigate the threats of climate change while creating a thriving green economy and reducing economic and racial injustices."

The trip also included an NBA game, and as William and Kate sat courtside to watch, they were booed by small pockets of the crowd around the stadium when they were introduced by an announcer and shown on the big screen.

At one point, some fans in the crowd could be heard loudly cheering "USA, USA" when the couple appeared on the screens in the centre above the court.

The White House has confirmed the royal couple are set to meet Joe Biden, the president, later this week.

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