London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Simone Biles top TIME 100 list

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Simone Biles top TIME 100 list

Britain’s Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, gymnast Simone Biles and singer Billie Eilish topped TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2020.
The publication released its annual list highlighting public figures across the globe that its editors consider to be icons, pioneers, titans, artists, leaders and innovators. The list includes political figures, entertainers, philanthropists, athletes, entrepreneurs and artists.

TIME Magazine notes that those on the list are considered influential, whether for the betterment of the world, or not.

The duke and duchess of Sussex topped the magazine’s list of influential icons, a category that also included Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka; Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny; musicians Britney Spears and Dolly Parton; civil rights figure Sherrilyn Ifill; Los Angeles Angels’ player Shohei Ohtani; poet Cathy Park Hong; Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara; Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh; Stop AAPI Hate co-founders Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Russell Jeung and Cynthia Choi; and Palestinian activists Muna El-Kurd and Mohammed El-Kurd.

Spanish chef and philanthropist José Andrés praised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their compassion in his writeup of the couple.
“In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know, the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don’t know. They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle,” he wrote.

TIME highlighted Eilish at the top of the pioneers category, which also included civil rights figure Ben Crump; Indonesian public health researcher Aldi Utarini; gymnast Sunisa Lee; Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy, authors on restituting African cultural artifacts held in France; Turkish economist Fatih Birol; Canadian fashion designer Aurora James; Indian biotech executive Adar Poonawalla; Kenyan environmental activist Phyllis Omido; Dutch diplomat Frans Timmermans; LGBTQ activists Indyra Mendoza and Claudia Spellmant; Dutch environmental activist; Mexican activist Olimpia Coral Melo Cruz; Hungarian gender studies scholar Dorttya Redai; and Myanmar activists Esther Ze Naw Bamvo and El Thinzar Maung.

In her tribute to Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion — who made last year’s list — wrote that the singer “is a rare spirit who speaks from her heart with no pretenses … a woman who stands up for herself and advocates for women everywhere.”

Among influential figures TIME considers to be titans, Biles topped the list, followed by Apple CEO Tim Cook; TV producer Shonda Rhimes; music producers Timbaland and Swiss Beatz; journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady; actor Youn Yuh-yung; track and field athlete Allyson Felix; musician Angélique Kidjo; executives Kenneth C. Frazier and Kenneth I. Chenault; and Brazilian executive Luiza Trajano.

Tennis ace Serena Williams wrote about Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, calling her “wise beyond her years.”

“By living her truth so loudly and by championing mental health, she is setting new standards of beauty, strength and resilience, breaking down today’s image-obsessed stereotypes and encouraging others to do the same.”

Among artists, British actor Kate Winslet topped the category, which also included actors Jason Sudeikis, Scarlett Johansson, Bowen Yang, Tracee Ellis Ross, Steven Yeun, Omar Sy and Daniel Kaluuya; musicians Bad Bunny, Kane Brown and Lil Nas X; filmmaker Chloé Zhao; cookbook author Jessica B. Harris; visual artists Mark Bradford and Barbara Kruger; and author N.K. Jemisin.

Actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh called Winslet “a master of her art,” while comedian Seth Meyers praised Sudeikis as “a good listener and a good hang.”

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was highlighted in the leaders category, which also included U.S. President Joe Biden; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris; Chinese President Xi Jinping; U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.; Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi; cable pundit Tucker Carlson; Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett; voter rights activist Stacey Abrams; El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele; former U.S. President Donald Trump; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Afghan journalist Mahbouba Seraj; U.S. Sen Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky; West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee; White House chief of staff Ron Klain; Chilean indigenous rights activist Elisa Loncón Antileo; and Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
Reform UK Proposes Visa Restrictions on Nations Pursuing Reparations Claims
Public Reaction Divides Over UK Decision to Bar Kanye West
Calls Grow for UK to Review US Base Access Following Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric
UK Indicates It Will Not Permit Use of Its Bases for Potential US Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
UK Prime Minister Defends Decision to Bar Kanye West, Questions Festival Booking
UK Accelerates Efforts to Harmonise Medical Technology Rules with United States
Wireless Festival Cancelled After Kanye West Denied Entry to the United Kingdom
Australia’s most decorated living soldier was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war-crime murder for the killing of unarmed Afghan civilians
The CIA’s Secret Technology That Can Find You by Your Heartbeat Successfully Locates Downed Airman
Operation Europe: Trump Deploys Vance to Hungary to Save the EU
King Charles Faces Criticism From Some UK Christians Over Absence of Easter Message
Former UK Defence Secretary Raises Concerns Over Ability to Counter Iran Missile Threat
UK Signals Non-Involvement in Iran Conflict as Trump Reasserts Firm Deterrence Stance
US and UK Strengthen Medical Device Cooperation Following Tariff Removal
Trump Backs Steve Hilton for California Governor, Highlighting Reform Agenda
UK Seeks Closer Ties With Anthropic as AI Policy Divergence Emerges Across Atlantic
Experts Warn of Evolving Extremism After Teens Arrested in UK Ambulance Arson Case
UK Convenes Talks to Safeguard Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz After Conflict Escalation
Trump Highlights Strong Leadership in Critique of UK Stance on Iran
UK Authorities Review Kanye West’s Entry Status Following Festival Backlash
UK Considers Deploying Aircraft Carrier for US Independence Day Celebrations Amid Renewed Transatlantic Focus
United Kingdom Moves to Attract AI Firm Anthropic Amid Tensions with US Defense Officials
RAF Intercepts Iranian Drones in Middle East to Defend Allied Security Interests
Labour Signals Shift on Foie Gras and Fur Restrictions to Advance EU Trade Talks
Seven Arrested Near RAF Base as UK Authorities Respond to Protest Activity
Economic Pressures Mount as Analysts Warn UK Growth Is Being Constrained by Policy Burdens
UK Green Party’s Push for Church-State Separation Sparks Debate Over National Identity
Strategic Island Emerges as Growing Challenge for United States and United Kingdom Defense Planning
Pepsi Pulls Sponsorship from UK Festival Following Backlash Linked to Kanye West
Signs Emerge of Declining Enthusiasm for Social Media in the United Kingdom
Security Alert Raised Ahead of Meghan Markle’s Planned Visit to Australia
UK Food Halls Defy Hospitality Slowdown, Emerging as Bright Spot in Challenging Market
UK Sets Firm Conditions for Military Action, Insisting on Legal Mandate and Clear Strategy
UK Medicines Regulator Launches Probe into Peptide Clinics Over Health Claims
New North Sea Drilling Unlikely to Significantly Cut UK Gas Imports, Analysis Finds
Woman Linked to UK’s First All-Female Terror Plot Faces Deportation
Downed US Aircraft Over Iran Linked to Operations from UK Airfield
Two Men and Teen Detained in UK Following Attack on Jewish Charity Ambulance
UK Police Launch Inquiry After Firearms Left Unattended Outside Mayor’s Residence
Giuffre Family Calls on King Charles to Meet Epstein Survivors During US Visit
Amber Wind Warning Issued as Storm Dave Approaches Parts of the United Kingdom
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit Set to Draw Heightened Global Attention
UK Considers Entry Fees for Overseas Visitors at Major Museums Ahead of 2026 Travel Season
UK Prime Minister and Kuwait Crown Prince Coordinate Security Response After Regional Escalation
Calls Grow to Expand Fully Paid Maternity Leave for UK Teachers Amid Workforce Pressures
UK Secures Tariff-Free Access to US Market in Landmark Pharmaceuticals Agreement
Trump Projects Strength in Critique of UK Leadership and Naval Readiness
×