The Woman Everyone Has an Opinion About
There are few public figures who polarize quite like Meghan Markle. Once embraced as a modern breath of fresh air in a centuries-old institution, she is now routinely cast as either a misunderstood changemaker or a calculating disruptor. This tension — between promise and perception — continues to animate headlines and online forums nearly a decade after her first date with Prince Harry.
The intensity of scrutiny around her has been unmatched in modern royal history. “I’m the most trolled person in the entire world,” Meghan said in 2024. That statement, rather than cooling the temperature, only fanned the flames, with critics questioning her victimhood even as they flooded comment sections with disdain. Her very presence seems to demand a response — and few can resist offering one.
According to a 2024 Ipsos poll, Meghan’s favorability rating in the UK sits at a mere 21%, while only 26% of Brits view her positively in a YouGov survey. In the United States, she fares better — 48% favorable, 33% unfavorable — but the numbers reflect a persistent divide. Love her or not, Meghan Markle remains inescapable.
The Culture Clash: Tradition Meets a Modern Woman
The backlash wasn’t immediate. In fact, Meghan’s arrival was met with excitement — a biracial, independent, outspoken American woman entering a historically white, reserved institution seemed to signal a new chapter for the monarchy. But as time went on, that promise of progress collided with the deeply ingrained traditions and expectations of royal life.
“She had done a lot by the time she met Harry,” noted author Elizabeth Holmes. “She knew what it was like to live and earn a living all on your own.” That independence, celebrated in almost any other context, was perceived as a threat inside the palace. Unlike Diana or Kate, who were younger and less established when entering the royal fold, Meghan arrived fully formed — educated, divorced, career-driven — and perhaps unwilling to be molded into the image of a “good royal wife.”
This early period of optimism is captured in the couple’s highly publicized Netflix docuseries. The official trailer, which offered intimate glimpses into their personal struggles and joyful moments, helped set the tone for a narrative the couple wanted to reclaim — one of love, pressure, and escape from a royal system they found increasingly untenable.
Critics, however, viewed the series as self-serving, while supporters saw it as a much-needed correction to years of one-sided media coverage. Regardless of where one stands, the documentary reinforced a central truth: Meghan and Harry were no longer playing by traditional rules — and the public was watching closely to see what would happen next.
The Optics of Ambition — and the Unforgivable Sin of Wanting More
Few public women have been so penalized for ambition. Meghan’s ventures — from her now-defunct blog The Tig to her more recent lifestyle brand, “As Ever” — have been dissected with a level of intensity usually reserved for political figures or billion-dollar CEOs. Launching podcasts, publishing children’s books, producing documentaries — each step forward is scrutinized as either a savvy move or a desperate grab for relevance.
And yet, as her close friend Emily Sorrells points out, “The projects Meghan has been working on recently reflect a side of her I have known for years. She has always felt a responsibility to use her platform to make a positive impact.”
PR strategist Evan Nierman sees a pattern: “Meghan has always been great at launching new ventures, but her problem is sustaining them.” Still, this narrative overlooks one essential truth: when men launch and pivot, they’re seen as entrepreneurial. When Meghan does it, it becomes a moral referendum.
“She shines so brightly in what she is so clearly meant to do,” said her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, describing Meghan’s comfort as a host, a mother, and a creative. That brightness, however, often becomes another reason for critique — especially in a culture that still struggles to reconcile female confidence with likability.
A Racial Rorschach Test
Meghan’s mixed-race identity has become a central, if unspoken, element of public opinion. She is not “Black enough” for some, nor fully embraced by white audiences either. “There is a disconnect,” said journalist Danielle Cadet. “From the perspective of Black people, it’s hard to decide whether or not we want to defend her.”
And yet, Cadet insists, race is inescapably part of the story. “It’s interesting to me that there’s a refusal to acknowledge the role that race plays in our opinion of Meghan.” The standard she’s held to — simultaneously expected to inspire, apologize, and retreat — is one that few white women face.
“Lots of mediocre white women become millionaires and billionaires,” Cadet noted, “making bread and homemade fruit snacks for their kids.” It’s a subtle indictment of how society defines who is “allowed” to succeed without qualification. Meghan, it seems, is never just enough — she must be extraordinary, or she is scorned.
The Narrative Gap: Authenticity vs. Control
Another layer of discomfort stems from Meghan’s desire to control her narrative — a desire that’s at odds with a media machine designed to twist it. She’s accused of being inauthentic, yet punished when she is vulnerable. “She tries really, really hard,” one source close to her said. And it shows — from her curated Instagram content to the meticulously styled show With Love, Meghan.
Royal commentator Kristen Meinzer noted, “The show is a natural extension of her Tig brand… Does everyone love it? No, especially the Meghan haters — who, I can only surmise, would love the show if it were exactly the same, but hosted by Kate.”
This contradiction — that she’s simultaneously too polished and too personal — fuels ongoing suspicion. Even her return to social media in 2025, to promote a cooking and lifestyle project, was viewed with cynicism. Critics questioned why someone so vocal about digital toxicity would return to the platform. The answer, perhaps, lies in strategy: for someone so deeply misunderstood, social media remains the only space she can curate — and control — her image.
Peace Offerings and Royal Optics
In 2025, Meghan reportedly sent King Charles a gift box from “As Ever” — complete with jams, crêpe mix, and honey — in what some viewed as a gesture of reconciliation. Royal correspondent Neil Sean called it a “sample box of delights,” while others, like Russell Myers, dismissed it. “I’m not sure a hamper full of jam and biscuits and crepes will smooth over relations,” he said.
Still, the attempt speaks volumes. It shows an awareness of the fractured relationship, and perhaps, a wish — however symbolic — to find a path forward. But as history shows, in the monarchy, symbolism isn’t always enough. Once cast as the outsider, it’s not easy to return, especially on one’s own terms.
So, Can Meghan Ever Win?
If winning means universal adoration, probably not. But that may not be her goal anymore.
“She moves the needle whether people love or hate her,” one insider told Us Weekly. And Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos agrees. “Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture… People are fascinated with her.”
Some experts believe the tide may shift as generational attitudes evolve. “She has considerable support among the young, even in the U.K.,” says royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams. “She has a contemporary image, has liberal views and is a person of color.”
In the meantime, Meghan is leaning into what she knows: business, branding, storytelling. “She operates with the same level of strategy, discipline and market awareness that defines the most successful entrepreneurs in any industry,” said former NBC Universal exec Cory Shields.
Her polarizing persona — part duchess, part entrepreneur, part lifestyle guru — is no accident. It may, in fact, be the key to her long-term relevance. “This isn’t an identity crisis,” Borkowski says. “It’s a business model.”
Featured Image from Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons