Meghan Markle Just Beat Out The Other Royals For This Title

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dominated the headlines in 2021. The couple was fresh off of their exit from the royal family, and even announced the birth of their second child, daughter Lilibet Diana. However, they seemed to lose some points in the court of public opinion along the way. According to the Daily Star, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's popularity took a major hit in 2021, especially after their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

In September, a popularity poll revealed that Harry's numbers had significantly dropped within a six-month time period, falling nine points to give a 34% approval rating in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Meghan's popularity also dropped three points to a low of only 26%. 

YouGov reports that Queen Elizabeth is currently the most popular royal with a 72% rating, while Prince William and Kate Middleton aren't too far behind with 62% and 60%, respectively. Markle's popularity lands her towards the bottom of the list. Although, there is one title that she was recently given above all other members of the royal family.

According to the New York Post, Meghan Markle may not be the most popular member of the royal family, but she could be the smartest. The Duchess of Sussex has officially been named the "most intelligent member of the British royal family," according to a new study by Oxford Royale. The title was given out after the education company analyzed the royal family's high school transcripts, as well as the rankings of the colleges that they attended. 

"Life as a royal isn't always an easy job and involves a lot of dealing with extensive scrutiny and life in the public spotlight, and Meghan Markle's academic strengths have equipped her perfectly for this role," a spokesperson for Oxford Royale said of the study. "While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have resigned from their roles as working royals, they have captured the interest and attention of the world, and Meghan's desire to use her platform to raise awareness over serious world issues reflects her intelligence, analytical mind and educational pedigree."

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, came in as the second most intelligent member of the firm during the study. Prince William came in third, while his younger brother and Markle's husband, Prince Harry, didn't even crack the top ten.