Prince Harry’s relationship with the British public may be entering a new chapter. After years of falling approval ratings following his decision to step back from royal duties alongside Meghan Markle, the Duke of Sussex has recently seen his favourability edge upward — and the change comes as he attempts to rebuild his relationship with his father, King Charles.

Harry’s popularity suffered a dramatic decline after the Sussexes announced their new royal status in 2020. His favourability fell from 72% in November 2019 to 55% just weeks after the announcement, before continuing to slide as Harry and Meghan publicly discussed their experiences within the Royal Family.

The lowest point came in January 2023, shortly after the release of Harry’s memoir Spare, when his approval rating reportedly dropped to just 24%. The memoir, along with the couple’s Oprah Winfrey interview and Netflix documentary, kept the family rift firmly in the public eye and appeared to deepen the divide between Harry and many Britons.

But now, something unexpected appears to be happening. Harry’s favourability has gradually improved, reaching 33% in YouGov’s July poll, up from 30% in April and six percentage points higher than the May 2025 figure. A majority still hold a negative view of the Duke, but the direction of travel has changed.

The timing is particularly significant. The latest poll followed Harry’s private reunion with King Charles at Highgrove, during which the Duke was reportedly reunited with his father and his family. The meeting was especially notable because it marked the first time Charles had seen Archie and Lilibet since 2022. No official photographs or details of the private meeting were released by the Palace. (

Now Harry appears to be looking toward an even bigger moment. He reportedly hopes Charles will attend the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, with organisers considering inviting the King to either the opening or closing ceremony and potentially to meet competitors. If father and son were to appear together publicly on the Invictus stage, it could become a powerful image of reconciliation — and potentially give Harry another boost with the British public.

The symbolism would be difficult to miss. Harry has repeatedly spoken about wanting reconciliation with his family, while his recent actions suggest he is trying to spend more time in Britain and rebuild those connections rather than intensify the public conflict. A royal source quoted by the Mirror said Harry wants the Birmingham Games to be “the best ever” and would consider Charles being there an especially meaningful moment. (

Yet the road back is far from guaranteed. Even with the recent improvement, 58% of those surveyed still viewed Harry negatively, meaning the Duke remains a deeply divisive figure in Britain. His challenge is therefore not simply to improve one poll number, but to convince a sceptical public that this new chapter is genuinely different from the years of accusations and royal controversy that came before

And that is where the most intriguing possibility emerges: Harry may have discovered that the most effective way to rebuild his British image is not another interview or revelation, but simply standing beside his father again. If Charles agrees to share the Invictus stage with him in Birmingham, that single public appearance could become the defining image of Harry’s attempted royal reconciliation — and perhaps the moment that finally changes how Britain sees him. (