Britain's rock solid support for the Royal Family: With Charles' Coronation just four days way, a major poll reveals there is little appetite for republicanism... but reform IS needed
- Try our interactive quiz below to find out how much of a royalist or republican you really are
Britain would decisively back the monarchy if a referendum were held tomorrow, a major poll reveals.
The largest study on the royals since the Queen's death gives the King a welcome boost in his Coronation week.
Well over half the United Kingdom would vote for a constitutional monarchy, with less than a quarter against, the poll by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft reveals.
In a further boon for Charles III, two thirds of the 11,450 people surveyed agreed that the Royal Family 'might seem a strange system in this day and age, but it works'.
Roughly the same margin also backed the current system as 'more stable' and 'an asset for the UK'.
The largest study on the royals since the Queen's death has given the King a welcome boost in his Coronation week (Pictured: Charles and Camilla pose for a picture in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on April 4, 2023)
Try our interactive quiz below to find out how much of a royalist or republican you really are:
But while the exclusive analysis for the Mail may give cause for hope, it also reveals King Charles must change things if the monarchy is to survive.
Some 73 per cent agreed that 'the Royal Family needs to modernise to have any chance of surviving', including three out of four monarchists.
Lord Ashcroft warns: 'If the royals don't need our votes, they still need our consent. Without public support, the monarchy will be on borrowed time.'
The survey also reveals:
- Some 65 per cent of the population believe the Royal Family is a net asset – even one in five of those who would vote for a republic agree;
- England, Scotland and Wales would vote to keep the monarchy in a vote tomorrow – but Northern Ireland would favour a republic by 46 per cent to 42;
- There is an age divide, with those aged 18 to 34 in favour of a republic, while those aged 65+ are strongly for the monarchy;
- Opinion is split by race, with most Asian and black African or Caribbean respondents believing the monarchy is for 'some people', while the population at large feels it is 'for everyone';
- Harry and Meghan's popularity continues to slide, with the couple on approval ratings of 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, making only Prince Andrew less liked;
- Nearly half (46 per cent) of the population do not believe the accusations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but a third believe them.
On having a monarchy, replies from the focus groups included: 'I think it's just part of Britain. I can't imagine being without it.'
One respondent said: 'When we do a state visit, nobody else can offer what we can. People might come to the UK and go, 'Great, dinner with Rishi Sunak.'
But if there's a state dinner, red carpets rolled out and it's the Royal Family, I think that's something.'
Another remarked: 'When I was at school in Nigeria, even our nursery rhymes – 'I've been to London to look at the Queen' – we already saw Britain, we saw the monarchy. It was a positive thing.'
Across all those surveyed, however, 67 per cent – including 58 per cent of pro-monarchy voters – agreed that 'the Royal Family should be scaled down and its cost significantly reduced'.
Britain would decisively back the monarchy if a referendum were held tomorrow, a major poll reveals. (Pictured: Camilla and Charles at the State Opening of Parliament in 2013)
Well over half the United Kingdom would vote for a constitutional monarchy, with less than a quarter against, the poll by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft reveals (Pictured: Prince William and Kate Middleton share a public kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their wedding in 2011)
Harry and Meghan's popularity continues to slide, with the couple on approval ratings of 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, new poll shows
READ MORE... LORD ASHCROFT: The monarchy has to change, but the King has time and goodwill on his hands
LORD ASHCROFT: Nobody elected the King. Depending on your point of view, this is either an indefensible outrage or the beauty of a constitutional monarchy: a head of state above the grubbiness of politics, who can therefore unite people whatever their allegiance
Exposing the challenging path King Charles III must navigate, focus group respondents revealed a fine line between cutting costs and keeping the magic.
Most respondents said of the Coronation: 'If you're going to do it, do it properly,' with one remarking: 'The bling is the thing that makes it.'
Lord Ashcroft said Charles 'has time and goodwill on his side', but warns: 'Without public support, the monarchy will be on borrowed time.'
Writing in today's Mail, he says: 'Nobody elected the King. Depending on your point of view, this is either an indefensible outrage or the beauty of a constitutional monarchy: a head of state above the grubbiness of politics, who can therefore unite people whatever their allegiance. But if the royals don't need our votes, they still need our consent.'
He found Charles has an approval rating of just 54 per cent, well below his late mother who at 76 per cent is still the most popular Royal ahead of Prince William (64 per cent).
Of Republican voters, 69 per cent said they were 'happy to continue with the monarchy under Queen Elizabeth, but now I think it's time for a change'.
While more respondents said they believed we would vote to keep the monarchy in ten years' time rather than ditch it, they thought a referendum in 50 years would result in a republic.
Lord Ashcroft found that many people said King Charles 'already seems warmer and more relaxed than he once did'.
The King's love story is also starting to cut through, with people saying they 'admire' him for going 'against public opinion' to marry Camilla.
One remarked: 'Camilla has turned it round. She wasn't so popular at first because of Diana, but she's an incredibly hard-working royal.'
Some 56 per cent of those surveyed believe that King Charles can unite everyone no matter who they voted for – something he will need to do.
For while Lord Ashcroft says that 'the King has no immediate worries' with public support, his research has revealed a nation deeply divided on the future of the Windsors.
England, Scotland and Wales are all in favour of a monarchy, but Northern Ireland would vote immediately for a republic.
Most Scots and Irish disagreed that Charles can unite everyone in the country. Some 48 per cent of those surveyed said the monarchy felt more like 'mostly an English thing', against 42 per cent saying it was 'something shared by all parts of the UK'.
There is also a huge generational divide. Of 18 to 24-year-olds, 34 per cent favour a republic with 28 per cent for the monarchy.
READ MORE: 'It makes me proud to be British': The Royal superfans who started camping out on the Mall more than a week before the Coronation tell of their joy at celebrating 'once in a lifetime' experience
John Loughrey, a well-known royal fan, who was wearing a t-shirt adorned with the King's image, excitedly told how Charles waved towards them when he was driven past with Queen Consort Camilla on Friday
But those aged 65 and over would vote to keep the monarchy by 74 per cent to 14 per cent.
The UK also appears split along race lines. Some 52 per cent of Asians and 65 per cent of black African or Caribbean felt the monarchy was only for 'some types of people' rather than 'for everyone'.
This is in contrast with Britain as a whole, where 48 per cent feel it is for everyone and 41 per cent for certain types.
Lord Ashcroft split respondents into five categories: the Committed Royalists (7 per cent of Britain); Mainstream Monarchists (32 per cent); Neutral Pragmatists (24 per cent); Modern Republicans (19 per cent); and Angry Abolitionists (18 per cent).
At the fringes, the Committed Royalists believe the King can unite everyone, while the Angry Abolitionists see the monarchy as a divisive and anachronistic institution with a colonialist and racist legacy.
Most people are Mainstream Monarchists, who see the monarchy as a force for stability and continuity, but believe the institution needs to modernise to survive.
Neutral Pragmatists think the alternative to the royals might end up being worse but feel they need to be scaled back. Modern Republicans think the passing of the Queen was a good moment to change, but believe other issues are more important.
Tomorrow, we publish data on the views of the monarchy held by residents of the 14 non-UK countries where the King is head of state.
