In a bombshell interview that has reignited fierce debate across Britain and beyond, Meghan Markle boldly asserted that a majority of the British public—specifically 60%—want her and Prince Harry to return to royal duties. The claim, made during a wide-ranging conversation with U.S. broadcaster Oprah Winfrey for a special airing on Apple TV+ in late January 2026, has sparked immediate backlash, fact-checking frenzy, and renewed scrutiny of the Sussexes’ relationship with the monarchy.

Speaking from her Montecito home, Meghan told Oprah: “The British people are not the tabloids. They know the truth. They know we deserve better, and polls show 60% of them want us back in the fold—doing the work we were born to do.” She went on to describe the couple’s 2020 departure (dubbed “Megxit”) as “forced” by “institutional resistance” and insisted public sentiment has shifted dramatically since then. “They see the good we could still do,” she added. “They know I deserve it. We both do.”

The statement quickly exploded online. Supporters hailed it as “brave and honest,” while critics accused Meghan of delusion or deliberate misinformation. Within hours, fact-checkers from Reuters, Full Fact, and the BBC’s Reality Check team published rapid analyses. No credible, recent poll supports the 60% figure. The most recent YouGov survey on the topic, conducted in December 2025, found that only 18% of Britons wanted Harry and Meghan to return to royal roles in any capacity, with 67% opposed and 15% undecided. Earlier Ipsos MORI data from 2024 showed similar results: just 19% favored reinstating their working royal status.

Meghan’s camp has not provided a source for the 60% claim, leading many to speculate it may stem from informal online polls conducted on pro-Sussex social media accounts, skewed U.S.-based surveys, or misremembered figures from older, more favorable data taken shortly after the couple’s Oprah interview in 2021. In that original sit-down, Meghan’s revelations about mental health struggles and alleged racism within the royal family initially shifted some public opinion in her favor—particularly among younger and international audiences—but subsequent polling has shown consistent majority opposition in the UK to their return.

The interview itself was wide-ranging. Meghan addressed ongoing security disputes, claiming the Palace had “weaponized” funding issues against them, and reiterated her desire to “heal the rift” while maintaining boundaries. She praised Catherine, Princess of Wales, as “a wonderful mother” but stopped short of offering any olive branch to the wider family. Prince Harry, appearing briefly via video link, echoed his wife’s sentiments, saying: “The people haven’t forgotten what we stood for.”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment directly on the 60% claim but issued a brief statement reaffirming that “the focus remains on the work of the King and the working members of the Royal Family.” Royal commentators were quick to weigh in. Katie Nicholl, author of The New Royals, called the assertion “astonishingly out of touch,” while royal biographer Penny Junor described it as “wishful thinking at best, deliberate exaggeration at worst.”

Social media reaction was immediate and polarized. On X, #MeghanMarkle trended globally, with posts ranging from “She’s delusional—polls say otherwise” to “The people DO want them back—ignore the haters.” Pro-Sussex accounts shared old clips and fan-made polls showing higher support, while anti-Sussex users circulated the latest YouGov data to debunk the claim.

For Meghan and Harry, the interview appears designed to reframe their narrative ahead of several high-profile projects, including a new Netflix documentary and Harry’s memoir follow-up. Yet the 60% figure has become the headline, overshadowing other topics and reinforcing perceptions of a disconnect between the Sussexes and British public opinion.

Whether the claim was a genuine misrecollection or a calculated move to rally supporters, it has once again thrust the Sussexes into the center of royal controversy. As one Palace insider put it: “If 60% wanted them back, they’d be back. The numbers simply don’t lie.” For now, the British public’s verdict remains clear—and it is far from the welcome home Meghan appears to envision.