Even when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity in the UK started to wane, they were still adored by Americans.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left their roles as working royals to start a new life in North America - and they were welcomed with open arms.
They managed to bag big interviews with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres and become friends with a number of showbiz pals in Hollywood.
However, there seems to have been a drastic change in opinion over recent months and their brand in the US appears to have been damaged.
The tide has seemingly turned after the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was loved by many Stateside, and the couples recent criticism of members of the Royal Family.
Popularity ratings
Once loved by everyone, the Sussexes have slumped in popularity in recent years - and in particular the last few months.
Harry had a net positive rating of 51 percent before Megxit, which then fell to 20 percent immediately after and further still after the Oprah Winfrey interview.
Meghan's popularity has taken a similar hit, going from a net positivity of 20 percent in November 2019 to -11 in January 2020 and now stands at -46.
Most recently, the couple had a serious fall in popularity in the US, taking them lower than disgraced royal Prince Andrew.
According to a poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton for Newsweek on February 19, Harry was disliked by 42% of Americans, compared to 32% who said they liked him — with a 'net approval rating of -10.
The same poll saw Harry at 38 points in a December 5 poll showing a staggering 48 point drop in.
South Park
Harry and Meghan were brutally taken down on South Park in February - causing them to be ridiculed around the world.
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex weren't specifically named, it didn't take a genius to work out who the fictional 'Prince and Princess of Canada' were supposed to be on their 'Worldwide Privacy Tour'.
Show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are renowned for hilariously mocking a wide range of celebs, but some felt they went 'too far' this time with their merciless lampooning.
From Meghan's magazine covers to Harry's blue todger and even a candle scandal - there were a shedload of digs at the royals in the outrageous episode.
It was reported that the portrayal of the Sussexes in the TV show "upset and overwhelmed" Meghan, according to a The Spectator source.
The insider also added that she "is annoyed by South Park but refuses to watch it all".
Almost a week after the episode first aired, the couple broke their silence by issuing a statement about claims they might sue.
Their spokesperson reportedly said "this is baseless and boring" in a statement given to Newsweek.
The South Park episode made them a major news story in America and highlighted a lot of the issues they have faced in the UK.
American presenters
The likes of Piers Morgan have always been very critical of the Sussexes in the UK - but it seems it's spreading to the States.
American broadcaster Megyn Kelly has been a very harsh critic of the couple, recently claiming Meghan 'pimped out' Harry after realising he 'has no money'.
In a fiery rant, Kelly claimed the reason Harry wrote Spare was due to the couple's worrying financial position - and Meghan "chose the poor one" out of the Royal Family.
Rubbing salt in the wounds, Kelly said Meghan had wound up with a "prince who's a pauper" and cruelly suggests she would be looking to "trade up" from Harry.
She also controversially labelled them "pathetic money-grubbing spotlight addicts" and blasted the Sussexes for their alleged "mean-girl betrayals".
But some people didn't agree - telling Kelly that she was being too harsh on the pair and they have valid reasons for taking their time to decide.
"My God, is there any day that ever dawned that you're not filled with such bile and hatred towards people you barely know," replied one person.
Another joked: "You're not getting invited Meg. Calm down."
Spare and Netflix allegations
Harry has been attacking his family members in autobiographical memoir Spare and in his Netflix docu-series with Meghan.
He alleged Charles and William were conspiring against him, revealed private conversations and even hit out at the late Queen.
Royal sources have claimed Charles took decisive action immediately after being passed a dossier of findings by aides revealing details from the explosive book - and led to the pair being kicked out of Frogmore Cottage.
While Harry was seen as the fun-loving Prince in times gone by, the allegations against his own family members seem to have angered many Americans.
Podcast host Emily Jashinsky told American TV host Megyn Kelly: "I think interest in them is really waning. There is a lot of interest, obviously, in people who are willing to criticise them."
The pundit added: "People are actually like 'what are you talking about?' You're insulting this country, you're insulting decent human beings and you're trying to make money and profit off of all of it."
Due to the number of allegations being made and multiple TV and book projects, it may be that Americans are just bored.
Emily later said: "I think people are absolutely sick of it to the extent that I actually don't know how much longer they'll really be able to monetise this at the scale that they were originally, because I don't think there's much interest or an appetite for lionising them."
Kelly, who said they had lost all approval now, added: "They were above water before their Netflix special and the book Spare. And now they're below water, both of them."
Celebrities mocking them
It seems the floodgates have opened in terms of celebs mocking Harry and Meghan.
Chris Rock took aim at the couple during his new comedy special, Selective Outrage, mocking their claims that the royal family were racist in an interview she did with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
The American comedian claimed Meghan was merely dealing with "in-law s***" amid her internal family drama with the royals.
"Like who is this girl Meghan Markle," he asked, adding: "Seems like a nice lady – just complaining. Like didn’t she hit the light-skinned lottery?"
Imitating Meghan, he jokingly said: "They're so racist, they're so racist." He added: "Some of that s*** she went through was not racism; it was just some in-law s***.
"Sometimes, it's just some in-law s*** because she's complaining, I'm like 'What the f*** is she talking about?'"
The Madagascar voice actor then professed he knew what Markle was "going through", stating: "I know her dilemma: Black girl trying to be accepted by her white in-laws. Oh, it's hard. It's so hard, it's very hard– but it ain't as hard as a white girl trying to be accepted by her Black in-laws. Now that s**t is really hard."
Another famous face who has spoken about the Sussexes is Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson, who awkwardly claimed Meghan isn't as "naturally warm" as her husband.
The Pitch Perfect star spoke about meeting the Sussexes at their Californian home in Santa Barbara alongside her mother, claiming Harry had been "lovely".
But Rebel didn't extend the same compliment to Meghan while appearing on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live.
She told the American host: "Meghan wasn't as naturally warm, but then, maybe, my mum being Australian asked her all of these slightly rude questions, like 'Where are your kids?' and things like that. And I was like, 'Mum don't ask her that!'"
Missing the Oscars
Harry and Meghan were nowhere to be seen at this year's Oscars ceremony - and it may have been to avoid bad press.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex managed to avoid criticism by snubbing the star-studded awards ceremony as it made "no sense" for them to be there, according to a PR expert.
Carla Speight, PR consultant, said: "Their documentary wasn't nominated. Meghan's not currently acting and I don't think Harry has any plans to either, though stranger things have happened with them recently.
"If they showed up to the Oscars, it would raise many questions as to why and ultimately it wouldn’t be a good look for them as it makes no sense."
Carla said there were only three reasons why the royal couple would have turned up to the Oscars.
Speaking to the Express, she said: "Either they've been nominated, are networking or have a project they want to plug. Harry and Meghan don't have any of those reasons to be there, so it's no surprise they weren't there."
Meghan and Harry have not attended the Academy Awards before, but were reportedly invited to present an award at the 2022 ceremony before the plan was scrapped.
No longer untouchable
Having previously been looked at as a fairy tale couple, the Sussexes were the toast of America.
Those who criticised them were few, but now it seems people are starting to change their opinions.
PR expert Matt Yanofsky told The Mirror the band aid has been "ripped off" when it comes to mocking Harry and Meghan.
"South Park is a show that is grandfathered into pop culture. Nobody is cancelling it, and it has a history of saying what everyone thinks but is scared to say," he explained.
He revealed the couple are "bigger than ever", which could leave them open for more jokes.
But he admitted that despite selling all their "dirty laundry", the couple's decision to label their children "prince" and "princess" means the public will have to pay attention to them.
Matt continued: "By satirising the couple, they've given other people permission to finally say what they think about Meghan and Harry, as we saw similarly with Chris Rock's stand-up special. Meghan and Harry are no longer untouchable in the US."
