Meghan Markle is “fuming” as Princess Kate is more loved by Britons than her, according to one of Meghan’s former friends. The 44-year-old stepped down as a working royal alongside Prince Harry in 2020 – with the couple now living in California with their six-year-old son Archie and four-year-old daughter Lilibet.
Kate, 43, is known to be an incredibly popular member of the Royal Family. On the other hand, surveys over the years, including YouGov’s rolling favourability tracker, have shown Meghan’s popularity in her husband’s home country has plummeted following the Sussexes’ decision to step back from their royal duties. Now, according to model-turned-television and radio presenter Lizzie Cundy, Meghan is struggling with the fact that Kate is more popular than her in the UK. Lizzie had reportedly previously been good friends with Meghan, with her even previously describing the Duchess as “really fun, really sweet”.
The 57-year-old first met Meghan in 2013 at a London charity event – but has now warned her once friend that she needs a refresh.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Lizzie claimed: “She’s fuming how the public love Kate. She needs to stop being bitter, stop being angry and stop being ‘poor me’.”
She also added that, when it comes to her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, which recently aired its second series, the former working royal should “stop pretending” and “be who she is”.
She said: “It doesn’t matter how many pots of jam she makes, she has to stop pretending. She’s not [lifestyle guru] Martha Stewart.”
According to a YouGov poll from August 2025 on the current popularity of the Royal Family, only 20% held a favourable opinion of Meghan.
In comparison, 71% held a positive opinion of Kate – who ranked second to her husband in the poll.
Earlier this year, Lizzie had already spoken of Meghan, claiming that she was “desperate to be liked” and wanted to “trump the royals with anything she does”.