William and Kate have been dethroned as the ‘most beloved members of the royal family’.
Princess Anne has surpassed Kate and William to become the most popular member of the British royal family among the public in the latest survey.
William and Kate at the state dinner welcoming the President of Nigeria in March. Photo: Instagram Princeandprincessofwales
According to the results of a Q3 2026 survey by the research organization YouGov, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are no longer the number one most popular figures in the British public’s eyes – a title they both held for many years.
Surprisingly, Princess Anne, 76, the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, rose to the top of the list. Her approval rating reached 67%, up from 62% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Princess Kate ranked second with 64% and Prince William held third place with 62%.
Princess Anne at an event on October 16th. Photo: Instagram TheRoyalFamily
Despite being only 19th in line to the throne, Princess Anne has long been known as “the most hardworking member of the British Royal Family.” She consistently led in the number of official events and duties in 2023 and 2024, surpassing both King Charles III and Queen Camilla . In addition, she patronizes hundreds of major charities such as Save the Children and actively participates in social activities.
Joe Little, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine , said: “With over half a century of devoted service, Princess Anne was an absolute pillar of support for King Charles III. Approaching her 80s, her tireless work ethic and straightforward personality continue to command great respect from both the media and the public.”
William and Kate stand next to Princess Anne at a royal event. Photo: Gtres
Besides her dedicated public service career, Princess Anne was a professional equestrian, winning numerous European medals and participating in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her only blemish on her royal career occurred in 2002, when her pet dog bit two children, making her the first member of the royal family to be fined under dangerous animal control laws.
In YouGov’s ranking of 19 members, King Charles III came in fourth with 53% positive feedback. He was followed by Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie. Queen Camilla ranked eighth, while Prince Harry came in tenth.
