YouGov tracks public sentiment towards key members of the family and the polling firm’s results show that Meghan has sunk from her 2018 and 2019 highs. About 53 per cent of people now have a negative opinion of her and 39 per cent a positive one. By contrast,74 per cent have a favourable opinion of Catherine,the Duchess of Cambridge. Camilla – once one of the most controversial women in Britain – also has more favourable ratings than Meghan.

In another recent YouGov poll,49 per cent said Harry should be removed from his place in the line of succession. Only three in every 10 people said he definitely shouldn’t.

The timing of their tell-all is also hugely awkward – 99-year-old Prince Philip isseriously ill in a London hospital. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed at least 125,000 lives in the United Kingdom and thrown millions out of their jobs. The optics of two young royals who rode out the pandemic in a $19.3 million California mansion,then talking about their own woes are far from good.

Rebuilding their image in Britain is not the aim of the interview,though:the intended audience is 330 million Americans and the highly lucrative opportunities that await in their new home. Harry and Meghan have already stitched up a multi-year deal with streaming giant Netflix – which some reports say could be worth more than $100 million – and a lucrative partnership with Spotify. Americans won’t be able to get enough of it.

Sunday’s interview is more an exercise in brand-building than brand repair. And as much an introduction to America as it is a goodbye to Britain.