The Queen Allegedly Had A Favorite Daughter-in-Law – And Fans May Be Surprised To Learn Who She Is

In some ways, the Queen wasn’t so different from the rest of us. She endured her fair share of family strife throughout her lifetime, after all. It seems that even being one of the most famous and powerful women in the world couldn’t stop that. And when it came to her sons — Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — she had an even tougher task. As each of her boys got married, Queen Elizabeth had no choice but to be nice to the women they chose — whether she liked them or not. But if rumors are to be believed, the iconic monarch got on with one of her daughters-in-law more than the others.

Four royal daughters-in-law

Lest we forget, the Queen actually had four daughters-in-law in all. There was the late Diana, of course, who was the wife of Charles. Then, in 2005, Charles wed Camilla Parker Bowles. Andrew, on the other hand, was married to Sarah Ferguson before the pair sadly split. And Edward, the youngest child of the monarch, chose Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as his bride.

Exclusive access

Naturally, being a daughter-in-law of the Queen came with a good few privileges. You’d have had access to your mother-in-law’s extensive jewelry collection, for a start. Yes, the Queen would often loan out some of the most beautiful items from her stash for special occasions. Diana’s famous Lover’s Knot tiara was borrowed from the royal hoard, for example.

The Lover's Knot

This goes for granddaughters-in-law, too. Kate Middleton has worn plenty of the Queen’s jewels, including the Lotus Flower tiara, the Irish Guards Brooch and — just like Diana — the Lover’s Knot. Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, hasn’t exactly gone without, mind you. On her wedding day, she sported a tiara that had once belonged to Queen Mary.

A special name

Those who married into the Queen’s direct line also appeared to have a touching way of referring to the monarch. Reportedly, they knew her as “Mama.” Sophie was heard calling the Queen this at Buckingham Palace, while Diana is also said to have used the nickname. Royal experts think that Kate and Meghan followed suit as well.

Diana's marriage

But the Queen’s relationships with her daughters-in-law had their ups and downs, to say the least. It’s no secret that Diana was desperately unhappy in her relationship with Charles, and naturally, this affected her interactions with the rest of his family. Diana once alleged that when she went to the Queen for help, she received none. This claim suggests that the Princess of Wales wasn’t the Queen’s favorite daughter-in-law — but don’t be so sure just yet.

The Queen's suggestion

In any case, after allegedly consulting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Queen supposedly advised Prince Charles and Diana to divorce. Diana was said to have been displeased by this intervention, but she did go ahead and split from her husband. Tragically, though, the princess didn’t have long to enjoy the single life. Just a year after she and Charles made their divorce official, she was killed in a car crash.

Outpouring of support

There was a massive outpouring of grief after Diana’s death, leaving the famously stoic royal family caught in the middle of a crisis they’d never seen coming. Eventually, the Queen ordered the flag over Buckingham Palace to be lowered to half-mast — even though it wasn’t tradition to do so.

Admiration and respect

And it appeared that the Queen had actually regarded her late daughter-in-law well. Delivering a televised speech in the wake of Diana’s passing, the monarch said, “[Diana] was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her.”

True feelings

It would have been easy for some to consider the speech mere damage control. But a contemporary letter that was eventually unearthed in 2017 revealed that the Queen was genuinely upset about Diana’s death. She had written to her lady-in-waiting Lady Henriette Abel Smith, “It was indeed dreadfully sad, and [Diana] is a huge loss to the country.” Perhaps, then, that puts Diana back in running as favorite daughter-in-law. But what about Camilla?

A complicated affair

Famously, Charles’ marriage to Diana was complicated by his affair with Camilla. And, reportedly, the Queen disapproved of this liaison — as you’d imagine any mom would. That doesn’t look good for Camilla, then, in the favorite daughter-in-law stakes.

Wicked woman

Yes, the Queen was said to have privately expressed a strong dislike for Camilla. In his 2018 book Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles, journalist Tom Bower claimed that the ruler had once referred to her future daughter-in-law as “that wicked woman” after having “several martinis” behind closed doors. Yikes.

Caught in between

Still, this didn’t stop Charles from marrying Camilla — several years after Diana’s death, of course. What did the Queen think? Well, the wedding presented a difficult dilemma in more ways than one. There was the fact that both bride and groom were divorcees. And rules are rules. Whoever is the current monarch is also head of the Church of England, which disapproves of divorce. So, she couldn’t exactly be seen in public to be advocating a remarriage.

Compromise

How did the Queen solve this conundrum? She simply didn’t go to the first part of her son’s second wedding. She did, however, attend the blessing ceremony and the reception afterward. And she reportedly gave a speech that dispelled rumors of discord, telling the guests, “I’m very proud [of Charles and Camilla] and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves.”

A very important relationship

Despite a seemingly rocky start, relations between Queen Elizabeth and Camilla only seemed to go from strength to strength. In fact, Elizabeth referenced her daughter-in-law in the speech she gave at Prince Charles' 70th birthday party, for instance. She has also gave Camilla important roles in the royal family. Could the then Duchess of Cornwall actually have been the Queen’s favorite?

The Queen and Fergie

Perhaps, but there’s also Sarah Ferguson — the one-time wife of Prince Andrew — to consider. She and Andrew tied the knot in 1986, and for a while the woman nicknamed “Fergie” seemed to be the new star of the royal family. Diana even informed her biographer that she believed Sarah had usurped her position as key attraction.

Kicked out

But those glory days didn’t last. In 1992 Sarah and Andrew separated. Then she was caught in a compromising position with another man. And when photos of the lurid incident were published in the press, the Queen was reportedly furious. Sarah was with the monarch at Balmoral at the time, and she was apparently told to remove herself from the building.

A simple request

Nonetheless, Sarah was able to bounce back into the Queen’s good books — and that may all be down to one unusual request. In 2011 the duchess told Harper’s Bazaar, “When I met with Her Majesty about [the divorce], she asked, ‘What do you require, Sarah?’ And I said, ‘Your friendship,’ which I think amazed her, because everyone said I would demand a big settlement.”

Unfriendly terms

Sarah wasn't necessarily popular among the rest of the royals, though. Allegedly, Prince Philip refused to go anywhere near her. And although the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of York both attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding, she was notably positioned where he couldn’t see her. King Charles reportedly isn't a big fan of his former sister-in-law, either.

Beloved Sophie

In fact, Fergie has sometimes been referred to as the Queen’s least liked daughter-in-law. But who was the favorite? Well, by several accounts, that would have been Sophie, Edward’s wife. Born a non-royal named Sophie Rhys-Jones, the young woman married the prince in 1999 and received the title Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex.

Still going strong

Unlike the other royal daughters-in-law, Sophie more or less stays out of the spotlight. Her wedding to Edward wasn’t even shown on television — it was that low-key. And Edward remains the only child of the Queen to have stuck with his first marriage. In fact, there’s never been a hint of discord between him and Sophie — as far as we know, anyway.

Pairing up

So, how can we tell that Sophie was the Queen’s favorite? Well, in 2019 The Sun spoke to some royal insiders about the pair’s relationship. And an unnamed source said to the newspaper, “If Sophie Wessex is staying at Sandringham, then you can pretty much guarantee the Queen will ask her — usually last thing on a Saturday night — if she would like ‘a lift’ to the church.”

Soothing Sophie

“And the same happens at Balmoral,” the insider continued. “The Queen likes to be completely calm before church, and she finds Sophie’s presence soothing… Who gets the backseat is also one of those quirky royal ways that signals who is in favor. For example, Princess Anne may have been staying at the same time, but how often did you see her in the Rolls?”

Like mother and daughter

Another source — this one described as a “senior royal aide” — also spoke to The Sun about Sophie, saying, “She is trusted and relied on by the Queen in a way I couldn’t say applied to the [then]-Duchess of Cambridge or the [then]-Duchess of Cornwall. She is like another daughter to Her Majesty. They are that close.”

Longest surviving marriage

“The Queen [was] also mindful that Sophie’s marriage has survived where her other children’s relationships had failed,” the anonymous aide added. “And she [knew] that is in no small way down to Sophie’s dedication. She [was] aware, as Edward’s mother, what a tricky creature he [could] be.”

Lovable grandchildren

The insider continued, “And not only has Sophie flourished as a dedicated, albeit still relatively junior, member of the royal family, [but] she has [also] brought up two teenagers who are well-balanced, sporty, amusing and delightful.” In fact, Sophie’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was reportedly one of the Queen’s favorite grandchildren.

Aiming to please

How did Sophie manage to win the Queen’s favor in the first place? Well, an alleged friend of the countess gave a possible explanation to The Sun. They said, “In her early days of marriage, Sophie set herself a series of tasks — she’s quite driven and focused like that — of learning how to ride properly, how to fish, how to shoot game and, more recently, carriage driving.” These were apparently all things of which the royals approved.

No guns

“[Sophie] was not a natural rider. She’s had lots of lessons from the grooms at Windsor,” the friend added. “But she’s certainly assured enough to have accompanied the Queen in gentle hacks around the Balmoral estate or Windsor Great Park.” That said, Sophie apparently drew the line at her young son going shooting. “She was probably the only mother in the family that would dare over-rule her husband,” the pal observed.

Netflix watcher

And according to another courtier, Sophie even managed to coax the Queen into seeing The Crown — the Netflix series based on her life and rule. They said, “It was only when Sophie mentioned that everyone seemed to be talking about [The Crown] — and why didn’t they give it a try, with the proviso that if they didn’t like episode one then they wouldn’t carry on — that [the Queen] agreed for it to be shown at Windsor Castle one weekend.”

Facts Vs. fiction

“[The Queen] sat down to see it one Saturday at teatime when she and Sophie often have a ‘TV date’ to watch old films,” the courtier explained. “This time, Edward was with them but not Philip, who refused to be involved. And the three of them loved it, although apparently the Queen kept interrupting to point out when things were wrong. But then I suppose you would if it was about your life, wouldn’t you?”

Shared love of history

It may help, too, that Sophie and the Queen apparently had a shared interest in military history. And Sophie’s supposed friend told The Sun that this was “a key to the pair’s closeness.” They added, “They’ve watched countless films together... At weekends, the pair are sometimes gone for hours, poring over documents in the Royal Archives, which are kept at Windsor Castle.”

Well-read and educated

“Sophie is hugely well-read on her military history,” the anonymous insider added. “She’s proud of her knowledge of military campaigns, and she and the Queen [could] chunter on for hours about whether this general or that admiral made the right move in some battle or other. If Philip [was] around, he [would] just raise his eyebrows and go into another room.”

Sophie's scandal

Best of all, Sophie has only had one major scandal since marrying into the royal family. In 2001, not long after her wedding, an undercover reporter recorded meetings with the countess. And unfortunately for Sophie, she was caught on tape making some unflattering comments about various British politicians, including the prime minister of the time, Tony Blair.

Her views on Camilla

To make matters even more awkward, Sophie had also talked about the royal family. And while most of what she said was actually quite complimentary, she suggested that Charles would not be allowed to wed Camilla so long as the Queen Mother was in the picture. She similarly speculated that the British people wouldn’t accept Camilla as a queen.

A slower pace

Since then, however, Sophie has been scandal-free. Some think, then, that she could offer advice to younger royals such as Kate and Meghan on how to maintain a royal life. The countess’ friend told The Sun that “as someone who found her early days as a royal bride testing to negotiate, [Sophie would] simply suggest that Meghan slow down —there’s no rush.”

Meghan's distance

Sophie apparently met with Meghan to talk in the time before she and Harry chose to step down as senior royals. Another insider explained to The Sun, “Sophie was one of the first to invite Meghan, on her own, to Bagshot for tea. They got on perfectly well, but Sophie could feel [that] they were never going to become the best of friends.”

A steadfast voice

Kate may be another story. In a 2020 documentary titled Edward & Sophie: The Reluctant Royals, journalist Rebecca English said, “One friend tells me that as we move into the next phase of the monarchy, it will be critical for the Duchess of Cambridge to have a female sounding board. They genuinely couldn’t think of anyone better to provide that than loyal, trustworthy Sophie.”

Easygoing couple

In the documentary, it was even speculated that as Harry and Meghan have moved away from their royal duties, Sophie and Edward may be handed bigger public-facing roles in the future. Journalist Ayesha Hazarika opined, “They’ve probably been the couple that’s given the Queen the least amount of grief — certainly in recent years. Edward’s the only child that hasn’t gotten divorced.” As for Kate and Meghan?

Getting on just fine

It was said that the Queen got on fine with Kate and Meghan, however, even despite the latter's controversial move to LA. The monarch appeared to support Meghan’s decision, in fact, although initially there were reports that she was angry. And Kate? Supposedly the Queen came to rely on her more and more as the years went on. All this flip-flopping between favorites isn't reserved just for inside the royal family, though. With each scandal and newly appointed title, comes with it a shift in public opinion. So who is officially the public's favorite royal?

The votes are in

Well, if the public outpouring of love after Queen Elizabeth’s passing tells us anything, it’s that she was extremely popular. Her dedication and steadfastness certainly set the bar very high. But as we know, each prince, princess, duke, and duchess isn’t as equally beloved. YouGov tallied the public’s opinions to create a ranked list of the most popular English royals. Where does King Charles III fall?

#14. Meghan Markle

Coming in at number 14 is a royal family member who’s had a bit of a tough time of it of late. As you’ll remember, the unending scrutiny of the British press pushed Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and her husband, Prince Harry, to leave their royal posts in January 2020. And their popularity among the British public seems to have taken a hit as a result.

Charming and confident

Meghan Markle only received a 25% popularity rating on the 2022 YouGov poll. But those who did vote in support of the American duchess said she was attractive, beautiful, charming, confident, and admirable. You can’t deny how much she’s done to help others as well — particularly women.

Helping others speak

In 2020 Meghan wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times in November. In it, the Duchess of Sussex revealed to the world that she had gone through a miscarriage, writing about the “unspeakable grief” she and Prince Harry felt as she “clutched [her] firstborn child, [knowing] that [she] was losing [her] second.”

Honesty and openness

The public lauded Meghan for opening up to the world about such a painful experience despite the royal family’s usual stiff upper lip. Midwife Sophie King told style magazine Harper’s Bazaar, “Her honesty and openness has sent a powerful message to anyone who loses a baby: This may feel incredibly lonely, but you are not alone…”

#13. Princess Beatrice

Next on the list is one of Queen Elizabeth’s many granddaughters, Princess Beatrice. Of all the people surveyed in the YouGov poll, 88 percent knew who she was, and her average popularity across Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers was 28 percent. Not bad considering she’s not one of the senior royals!

Dedicated

As well as attending the odd royal event, Princess Beatrice works in business. And she’s also an ambassador for various non-profit organizations and a mum to daughter Sienna, who came along in September 2021. The princess seemed to have a very close relationship with Queen Elizabeth, which may have helped in her favor. She even wore one of Her Majesty’s dresses on her wedding day!

The wedding

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were one of the very few people who attended Beatrice’s small wedding to Edoardo Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi. After the event, a photo was shared on the official royal family Instagram page, and it was among the most-liked photos posted by that account in 2020. We get the feeling Beatrice’s popularity star is on the rise.

#12. Princess Eugenie

If the sisters are in competition about who is most popular, then Princess Eugenie slightly pips the post. Her average popularity score among the different generations is 31 percent. And that slight increase could be down to the fact that Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank was televised, meaning everyone could celebrate with the princess if they wanted to!

Arty and charitable

Like her sister, Princess Eugenie supposedly had a very close relationship with Queen Elizabeth — so much so that people thought she was the favorite grandchild. Over the years she's gained press attention for her bold outfit at William and Kate’s wedding and for choosing a wedding dress that exposed her scoliosis surgery scar.

The real her

Princess Eugenie also makes her own way in life as a London art gallery director. And in February 2021, she became a mother to her little boy, August. The princess’ Instagram is famously candid and down-to-Earth, showcasing photos of her happy times with other members of the royal family. It’s no wonder she’s well-liked!

#11. Prince Harry

Next up on the list is the 11th-most popular royal family member, who happens to also be the most famous of them all — yes, even behind the late Queen Elizabeth. Ninety-eight percent of all those surveyed by YouGov know the name Prince Harry, and 34 percent of them see Princess Diana’s fire-haired son in a good light.

Funny

Those who told YouGov that they liked Prince Harry had a slew of kind descriptors for him. They said he was fun-loving and humorous, as well as confident, likable, and admirable. He proved the most famous with Millennial participants, who actually ranked him as their fifth-favorite royal overall.

Dividing opinion

Of course, 2020 was a decisive — and divisive year — for Prince Harry. He pinned the couple’s decision to step down as senior royals on the British media, saying he wanted to protect his family. And nearly a third of the public strongly supported that choice, according to a separate YouGov survey.

The quieter life

The quieter life he sought brought Prince Harry, Meghan, and their son, Archie, to Montecito, California. From there, the royal couple has signed a huge Netflix deal, opened up in a TV interview with Oprah, and welcomed their baby daughter, Lilibet. It’s almost hard to believe that Prince Harry doesn’t land higher on the list. In the past, YouGov found Harry to be much higher in public opinion.

#10. Prince Edward

Of all of Queen Elizabeth’s children, Prince Edward is the one who’s arguably led the quietest life — as in, away from the spotlight. But it doesn’t seem to have impacted too negatively on his popularity score, which is 35 percent. Perhaps expectedly, Prince Edward is most popular among those in the Baby Boomer category, with 51 percent of people in that generation liking the royal.

Full-time work

Interestingly, Prince Edward is the first person on this list who’s a full-time working royal. He spends his days attending royal events and supporting organizations that are specifically aimed at helping young people access opportunities. Since Prince Philip passed away, for example, Edward took over the responsibilities linked to the Duke of Edinburgh award — a program that helps young people develop the various skills needed for life and work.

Children

Outside of his duties, the Prince, along with his wife, Sophie, has raised two polite and hard-working children. He clearly sets a wonderful example at home as well as on behalf of the royal family and the king, his brother Charles. Maybe, word of Edward’s dedication to young people will spread among millennials in time for the next poll.

#9. Sophie Wessex

YouGov ranked Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as the tenth-most popular royal, as determined by the British public. Sophie is married to Prince Edward, who is the Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn. As King, it’s possible that Charles may make Edward the Duke of Edinburgh. And this would make Sophie a duchess.

Loyal and admirable

The public who ranked Sophie as their tenth-favorite royal described her as loyal, admirable, a good role model, attractive, and down to Earth, according to YouGov. She has, after all, dedicated her life to the full-time service of the royal family and making lots of time for philanthropy.

“No fuss and bother”

Sophie seems to have upped her game since Harry and Meghan moved away, which may have helped her make it onto the top-ten list. In November 2020, for example, she spoke as part of the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth Network. When the royal family posted a photo of her at the event, compliments flooded in from social media users. One wrote, “Love how the Countess of Wessex works quietly behind the scenes with no fuss and bother. She is a marvel.”

#8. Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom

In a message by Queen Elizabeth that was released around the time of her Platinum Jubilee, she said, “It is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as queen consort as she continues her own loyal service.” Given the scandalous history of the Charles and Camilla affair, you may have expected there to be more objection on the part of the British public. But they seemed fairly happy with the announcement.

Loyal and prepared

And that’s reflected in Camilla’s popularity score, too. All in all, 40 percent of people like the Queen Consort. She has, after all, proven her loyalty to both King Charles and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. As her husband, Charles, has prepared to step up and take the throne, Camilla has been with him every step of the way.

Her own ventures, too

Camilla has accompanied Charles on many official engagements, but she’s also the Patron or President of more than 90 charities in her own right. These causes are immensely varied, but themes include supporting those who are vulnerable and victims of sexual assault as well as advocating for the arts.

#6. King Charles

King Charles enjoys high popularity with voters who are close to his own age group. The Baby Boomers had a 54-percent-positive opinion of the monarch, while Generation X ranked him their eighth-favorite royal. Only 40 percent of that voting group said that they had a favorable view of him.

Ever-changing

But that’s set to change fairly rapidly as he steps further and further into the role of King. The YouGov poll taken just after Charles ascended to the throne reported that 63 percent of people thought he’d do a good job as a ruler — that’s an increase of 31 percent. And it seems that on the whole, people thought the speech he delivered to the nation after Elizabeth’s passing struck the right tone.

A life-long promise

“Queen Elizabeth's was a life well-lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing,” he said. “That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.” People all over the United Kingdom and Commonwealth will be looking to make sure that promise is fulfilled.

#8. Zara Phillips

Ahead of the King on the 2020 YouGov poll is Zara Phillips. Brits will know that she is an accomplished equestrian, riding for her home country at the 2012 Olympics — and winning the silver medal. And again, she’s one of those royals who just seems really friendly and down-to-Earth. She was favored by 49 percent of the people surveyed.

Genuine and a good role model

The public say they like Phillips so much because of her talent, as well as for her likeability, accomplishments, and genuine personality. Plus, they say, she’s a good role model. That reputation could have a lot to do with her Olympic experience, which has paved the way for her career as a racecourse director and unofficial promoter of Great Britain’s equestrian team.

#4. Princess Anne

Next on the list is Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s second born, Princess Anne. She likely landed in fifth place due to her longstanding dedication to supporting good causes. In her philanthropy, for instance, Anne has focused on health, education, and transportation links in poorer parts of the world.

The apple of Philip’s eye

Like her daughter, Zara, Princess Anne went to the Olympics for horse riding, making her the first royal to do so. And the familial similarities don’t end there. Anne supposedly shares values with her late father, Prince Philip, and this is said to have made the pair very close. Some even say she was his favorite child!

Hardworking and committed

That positive opinion is clearly shared by the public, too. Fifty-three percent of YouGov survey respondents liked Princess Anne, describing the princess as admirable, hardworking, strong, and committed, as well as a good role model. Maybe it was these qualities that Prince Philip particularly admired about his daughter.

#3. Prince William

The next person on the list is the heir to the throne and Prince of Wales, Prince William. Unsurprisingly, 96 percent of survey participants had heard of this royal, and 66 percent of people asked were fans. In fact, only 13 percent of respondents had a negative view of the future king.

Good feelings all round

William’s appeal grows with each age group if you look at them in ascending order. Millennials’ positive opinion of the future king hovers at 61 percent. Sixty-seven percent of Generation X sees him in a favorable light. And then there are the Baby Boomers, 77 percent of whom like the Prince of Wales.

Responsible and likable

Prince William earned his place in the hearts of the British public by being genuine, responsible, and likable, according to the YouGov survey. Participants also described the future king as being admirable and a good role model — great news, considering he’s a father of three.

Seeing more of the kids

We can only imagine William’s star will continue to rise now that he is the next in line to the British throne. Not only that, but experts say that he and his wife, Kate, will start letting their children participate in more royal engagements. Who won’t like the future king even more when they see him interacting with his adorable brood?

#2. Kate Middleton

And William clearly chose the right lady to stand by his side as heir to the throne. Kate, the Princess of Wales, has overtaken her husband in terms of popularity — only marginally, but still. She was known by 93 percent of survey respondents and was liked by 68 percent.

Beautiful and genuine

The second-most famous royal family member is admirable, beautiful, attractive, and genuine, according to her fans who spoke to YouGov. As such, Catherine’s popularity transcends her own age group, which we haven’t seen much on this list of results. While Millennials have a 61-percent positive opinion of the Princess, nearly three-quarters of Baby Boomers see her in a favorable light. Keep doing what you’re doing, Kate!

Good causes

Perhaps Kate’s decidedly positive reputation stems from her dedication to her charitable endeavors. The future Queen of England has made early childhood education a focus of her public work. She aims to improve the lives of little ones, as well as teachers, parents, and caregivers.

A mom first and foremost

Throughout it all, Kate manages to make herself relatable to royal watchers the world over. She may be the future Queen of England, but she’s also a mom to three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis. So, when a fan asked her how she managed toddler tantrums, she answered frankly and said she’d like to know that answer herself.

#1. Queen Elizabeth

Back when this survey was taken in early 2022, there was only one person who could take the top spot: Queen Elizabeth II. She was the public’s favorite in all surveyed age categories: Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. And when she passed away, we saw what this popularity looked like as people from all over and different generations lined the streets to pay their respects and bid their monarch farewell. Queen Elizabeth would no doubt say she couldn’t have done half as good of a job without her mainstay, Prince Philip, who came fifth on his last YouGov poll.

Honorable mention: Prince Philip

Back in 2020, before his death, Prince Philip garnered a 50-percent-positive opinion from the British public. This put him in fifth place on the list of the most popular British royals. So you can see why the world stood still when he passed back in April. To earn his fifth-place position on the list, Prince Philip clearly charmed those who voted in the YouGov poll.

Loyal and entertaining

They described the Duke of Edinburgh as admirable, hard-working, loyal, humorous, and entertaining. That’s despite the fact that he hadn’t been out and about much since 2017, which is when the world learned that he wouldn’t be attending royal events and engagements anymore.

Popular with the Boomers

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those who supported Prince Philip the most were the Baby Boomer generation. They had a 56-percent-positive view of the royal, as compared to 52 percent of Generation X and a mere 38 percent of Millennials who looked favorably upon the prince. He’d certainly done his duty supporting Queen Elizabeth — right from the very start of her reign. There were no doubt moments when she wished she could give it all up, but that’s simply not how succession works.