Majority of Brits think Harry and Meghan treated Queen badly, new poll shows

The majority of Brits think it was not right that Prince Harry and Meghan did not tell the Queen in advance of their plans to step back from being senior royals.

A new poll from the Daily Mail showed 71 per cent of people thought the monarch was treated badly.

Most people also think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should give up their publicly funded security and pay back the millions used to renovate Frogmore Cottage.

While 50 per cent of people think Harry and Meghan are right to give up their frontline royal duties, most think they handled the split poorly.

And 73 per cent said the couple should give up their publicly funded support - 60 per cent said the £2.4m used to refurbish Frogmore should be paid back.

It comes after the couple vowed that they would work to become “financially independent” as they step down from their frontline role.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday evening, the Sussexes outlined their plans for the future, dividing their time between the UK and North America.

Their intentions are the subject of urgent meetings began in earnest on Friday after directions from the Queen and other senior royals.

The majority of the public also think the Queen was treated “shoddily” by their announcement.

However, people still believe that the Queen should let them leave, with 72 per cent saying they should be allowed to go, compared to 16 per cent who say she should ask them to stay, according to the 1,000 people quizzed.

The figures come as the couple are “hopeful” discussions to find workable solutions for their future roles in the royal family can be concluded “sooner rather than later”.

Speaking about the duke and duchess, a source said: “They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later.

“It is in everyone’s interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome.”

Additional reporting by PA Media.