Princess Anne has emerged as Britain's most popular royal, overtaking Prince William and Princess Kate in YouGov's third-quarter rankings for 2026. According to the Daily Mail, the 76-year-old Princess Royal received a 67% approval rating and just 7% disapproval, placing her ahead of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Kate followed with 64% approval, William with 62%, and King Charles III with 53%. The results mark a notable shift, as William and Kate have frequently dominated royal popularity polls.

Princess Anne Overtakes William and Kate

Anne's popularity has steadily increased throughout the year. In the first quarter, she received 62% approval and 7% disapproval. By the third quarter, her approval rating had climbed to 67%, while disapproval remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, Kate's approval fell from 75% to 64%, and William's dropped from 74% to 62%.

However, preferences varied across generations. William remained the most popular royal among millennials, with 60% approval, while Kate led among women and Generation X. Anne proved particularly popular among men and baby boomers.

Edward, Sophie, and Zara Follow Behind

Further down the rankings, Prince Edward received 47% approval, followed by Duchess Sophie at 45%. Zara Tindall placed seventh, ahead of Queen Camilla and the Duke of Kent, who received 30% approval.

Prince Harry ranked tenth, ahead of Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor, and Princess Eugenie. Sarah Ferguson received 11% approval, while Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones received 10%.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was not included in the rankings.

Harry Gains Ground, While Meghan Struggles

Prince Harry's popularity also improved throughout 2026. In the first quarter, he received 25% approval and 55% disapproval. By the third quarter, those figures had shifted to 29% and 41%, respectively.

Meghan Markle's ratings followed a more uneven path. She began the year with 26% approval and 47% disapproval before dropping to 18% approval and 61% disapproval in the second quarter.

By the third quarter, her approval had recovered slightly to 22%, while disapproval fell to 49%. Both Harry and Meghan saw their ratings improve following their reported return to the UK in August.

Princess Anne Receives Honorary Doctorate

Beyond her popularity in the polls, Princess Anne recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lincoln in recognition of her contributions to public life and her support for agriculture and rural communities.

During her visit to the Geothermal Glasshouse at the university's Riseholme Campus, Anne explored innovative cultivation techniques, sustainable food production, and technology used to create 3D models of strawberry plants.

University Vice Chancellor Neal Juster described the royal visit as an honor, according to the Daily Mail.