EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal exit all stemmed from the duchess “not wanting to be number two to Kate”, a royal expert has claimed.

Harry and Meghan’s popularity has ‘plummeted’ (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have suffered “the biggest plummet in popularity in history” as the couple go from being the Royal Family’s main attraction to selling jam in the US, a royal expert has claimed.

Hilary Fordwich, a royal commentator based in the US, told Express.co.uk the Sussexes’ acrimonious exit from the Royal Family stems from “Meghan not wanting to be number two to Kate.”

She said: “It is the biggest plummet in popularity in history. To have gone from the number one most popular royals after the Queen, Harry has now gone to just above Prince Andrew.

“That plummeting was by choice. It all stems from Meghan not wanting to be number two to Kate. Better to have been number two than nothing.

“Now she is releasing jam while Kate is at Trooping the Colour.”

READ MORE: Inside Harry and Meghan’s huge world tour: ‘No charity, just publicity’

Meghan was polled second most popular royal, only ahead of Andrew (Image: Getty)

A poll by YouGov released in April found that Meghan was the second most unpopular royal with only Andrew behind her.

Andrew was seen in a negative light by 86 percent of respondents compared with 64 percent for Meghan.

Harry did not fare much better with 61 percent saying they had a negative view of him.

In recent weeks, reports have suggested that Harry and Meghan could be considering a return to the UK, with Harry even said to be missing his old royal life.

Richard Eden, of the Daily Mail, has warned that Harry and Meghan are now “not wanted” by the Royal Family.

He said: “We saw that at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 where it was just Harry and his brother, Camilla and Charles and of course, the queen.

Harry and William remain at odds (Image: Getty)

“Charles thought that when Harry had a family, they would be carrying out engagements and sharing those duties with William so, I think time is running out.

“If Harry wants to come back at any stage, he needs to do it while his father is still King.

“I really think that when Prince William is King, I can’t see him letting Harry come back and have a role again.

“They are irrelevant now, they are just not wanted as part of the monarchy.

“Maybe there could be some radical change but it’s hard to see.”