Meghan Markle's 'desperate' move to improve public image in the UK as popularity plummets

Americans react to Prince Harry signalling US is now his primary residence

Meghan Markle's latest move shows a "desperate" attempt to improve her public image in the UK following an unfavourable poll, according to a royal expert.

Royal expert Kinsey Schofield said the US-based couple made a "desperate" attempt recently to improve their popularity in Britain.

Speaking on TalkTV, she said: "They just hired a UK-based publicist. I mean [for] Meghan that is acknowledging that her polling is in the gutter.

"When you are desperate enough to hire not one but two new publicists..."

Host Jeremy Kyle cut her off, saying: "Imagine that though. You just imagine that a member of the Royal Family needs to hire a PR expert in the country they're were born. That's unbelievable."

Meghan Markle's new move shows a 'desperate' attempt to repair her image (Image: Getty)

Schofield also described the new move as "crisis management."

A new poll, which surveyed 2,166 British adults, showed only 25 percent of those who were asked had a positive opinion of the Duchess.

Meanwhile, 31 percent of those surveyed liked Prince Harry. Both were more favourable among the younger generation.

However, a separate poll by Newsweek found that Meghan's popularity in the US is the same as King Charles' at 36 percent, while 24 percent of people said they disliked her and the other didn't specify a preference.

Prince Harry returned to the UK this week for the Invictus Games (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry returned to the UK this week as he prepares to attend an event for the Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Meghan has not accompanied him on the trip but is expected to fly to Nigeria, where she will meet him following his brief visit back to his home country.

Similar to Harry's visit to England, the trip to Nigeria is also in honour of the Invictus Games, with the Sussexes set to take part in talks about the games.

Meghan previously revealed she is "43 per cent Nigerian" during an interview with Nigerian-American actor Ziwe on her podcast, Archetypes.

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