In a single, calculated sentence dropped during a promotional interview for her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, Meghan Markle has once again thrust herself — and the British monarchy — back into the center of global conversation. “60% of the British public want me and Harry to return to the royal family,” she told Oprah Winfrey in a clip aired on Apple TV+ on February 15, 2026. The assertion, delivered with calm conviction, landed like a spark on dry ground — and within hours, it had set off a firestorm of reactions, fact-checks, and renewed division.

Supporters seized the figure as long-overdue proof that Meghan’s appeal had been deliberately underestimated by the establishment and the tabloid press. Online communities aligned with the Sussexes flooded social media with celebratory posts: “The people have spoken — time for the Palace to listen,” “60% is a majority — the silent majority is waking up.” Hashtags #MeghanForThePeople and #BringBackTheSussexes trended briefly in the UK and US, with fans sharing old clips of Meghan’s early royal engagements and arguing that her departure in 2020 was forced rather than chosen.

Critics, however, pounced immediately. Fact-checkers from Reuters, Full Fact, and the BBC’s Reality Check team published rapid analyses showing no credible poll supports the 60% claim. The most recent YouGov survey (December 2025) found only 18% of Britons favored any form of return for the Sussexes as working royals, with 67% opposed and 15% undecided. Earlier Ipsos MORI polling from 2024 showed similar figures: around 19% in favor. Meghan’s team has not provided a source for the statistic, leading many to speculate it may stem from informal online polls conducted in pro-Sussex Facebook groups, skewed U.S.-based surveys, or misremembered data from the brief period of sympathy following the 2021 Oprah interview.

The claim’s timing is widely seen as deliberate. It arrives as Prince William reportedly pushes to revoke the Sussex titles, as King Charles III continues cancer treatment, and as public focus shifts toward the Wales family’s stability and future reign. Royal experts interpret the statement as an attempt to reclaim narrative control at a moment when the Sussexes’ influence in Britain has waned. “This isn’t about reconciliation — it’s about relevance,” said royal commentator Ingrid Seward. “Meghan is reminding everyone she still has a voice and a platform, even if it’s across the Atlantic.”

The backlash has been swift and sharp. On X, #MeghanDelusional and #60PercentLie trended alongside #StandWithMeghan. Conservative commentators accused her of “living in a parallel universe,” while some former royal aides called the figure “fantasy polling.” Even moderate royal watchers expressed frustration: “If 60% wanted them back, they’d be back,” one prominent columnist tweeted. “The numbers simply don’t lie.”

The Palace has maintained its standard line of non-engagement: “We do not comment on private opinions or unsubstantiated claims.” Behind closed doors, however, the statement has reportedly caused fresh exasperation, particularly for William, who sees it as further evidence that Meghan continues to leverage royal association for personal and commercial gain while publicly criticizing the institution.

Meghan’s defenders argue the 60% figure — even if unverified — reflects a broader sentiment among younger, international, and progressive audiences who view her as a victim of institutional racism and misogyny. “She’s speaking truth to power,” one supporter posted. “The Palace can’t handle that she still has influence.”

Whatever the true polling numbers, the statement has achieved its apparent goal: it has reopened a chapter many believed had closed. The Sussexes remain in California, building their independent brand through media deals, philanthropy, and public speaking. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, grow up far from palaces and protocol. Yet Meghan’s words ensure the conversation continues — not on the Palace’s terms, but on hers.

The monarchy endures, but the fracture does too. As Charles focuses on recovery and William prepares for his eventual reign, Meghan’s claim — verified or not — reminds everyone: the story of Harry and Meghan is far from finished. And whether viewed as bold truth-telling or calculated provocation, it has once again forced Britain — and the world — to confront the question that refuses to fade: Who gets to define the future of the royal narrative?