Public Backlash Against Sussex Titles for Profit as Royal Poll Reveals Widespread Concerns
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex face mounting public disapproval today, with an exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday revealing that an overwhelming four-to-one majority of Britons are opposed to them using their royal titles for commercial gain. This sentiment emerges alongside strong public calls for Prince William to be more transparent about his financial affairs, and significant doubts about King Charles's upcoming state visit to the United States.
Sussexes' Australian Tour Sparks Commercial Criticism
The poll follows a four-day visit to Australia by Prince Harry and Meghan, which has been dubbed a 'faux royal tour' and raised fresh questions about whether the couple are capitalising on their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. To the dismay of royal insiders, the Sussexes blended charity work with highly lucrative business deals during the trip, echoing concerns that the late Queen Elizabeth II expressed when she insisted they could not maintain a 'halfway house' between royal duties and private enterprise.
On the final day of the Australian tour, Meghan participated in a money-spinning event titled the 'ultimate girls' weekend' in Sydney, where female fans paid up to £1,700 to ask questions and pose for pictures with her. The Duchess reportedly earned up to £130,000 for her appearance at the women-only Her Best Life retreat. Meanwhile, Prince Harry appeared as a guest speaker at Melbourne's InterEdge Summit, where platinum delegate tickets were priced at £1,250.
Those close to the Duke and Duchess have described the visit as a 'huge success' and a blueprint for future tours. However, the exclusive analysis for The Mail on Sunday reveals that 61% of the 2,000 British adults surveyed believe Harry and Meghan should not be allowed to use their Sussex titles for commercial or personal advantage. When undecided respondents are excluded, the opposition rises to nearly 80%.
Demands for Financial Transparency from Prince William
The survey also highlights public scrutiny of Prince William's finances, particularly regarding the Duchy of Cornwall—a £1 billion portfolio of property, investments, and land that provides him with an annual income of nearly £23 million. While the Prince voluntarily pays the top rate of income tax on these profits, he has not disclosed the exact amount, unlike his father, King Charles, who did so when he was heir to the throne.
Earlier this month, it emerged that William received millions of pounds in public money from the Duchy of Cornwall's leasing of HMP Dartmoor, a category C jail in Devon that has been empty since July 2024 due to toxic gas levels. When asked whether Prince William should be more transparent about his income sources and expenditure, 54% of respondents agreed, 23% disagreed, and 23% were unsure.
Additionally, 46% of those surveyed believe that, upon becoming King, William should ensure the wills of senior royals, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, are made public. This challenges the century-old convention of sealing such wills, with the late Queen and Prince Philip's documents sealed for at least 90 years.
Doubts Over King Charles's State Visit to the US
The poll comes ahead of the third anniversary of King Charles's coronation and a week before he and Queen Camilla are hosted by President Trump on a state visit to the US. The trip aims to ease US-UK tensions over issues such as the war in Iran and President Trump's criticisms of UK political figures. However, less than a third of respondents believe the state visit should proceed, indicating public scepticism.
There is, however, support for the Palace's decision that the King and Queen will not meet survivors of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during the visit, with 45% opposing such meetings and only 24% in favour. Regarding King Charles's performance, 40% of Britons believe he is doing a good job, while 16% think he is doing poorly. When undecided respondents are excluded, these figures shift to 71% approval and 29% disapproval.
Tyron Surmon, Head of Research at Find Out Now, commented: 'On one hand, the public are positive about Charles and think he's doing a good job as King. But on the other hand, they think Prince William should be more transparent about his finances, and overwhelmingly think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shouldn't be using their titles for commercial gain. This will be a fine line for King Charles and Queen Camilla to walk, especially with their upcoming state visit to the US, which the public don't think should go ahead.'
