Poll Finds Public Support for Royals Has Fallen to Decades-Low Level

Public support for the Royal Family has dropped to its lowest level in more than 30 years, according to a new poll.

The findings suggest the share of Britons who want to keep the monarchy has declined by 11 percentage points over the past three years, falling to just over half of the population.

The figures mark the weakest level of support recorded in the 33 years Ipsos has tracked public attitudes toward the royals, with younger people showing particularly diminished enthusiasm for the institution.

In 1993, support for the Royal Family stood at 69 per cent, despite coming shortly after one of the most turbulent periods of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

The Queen famously referred to that time as her “annus horribilis,” a year marked by the breakdown of three of her children’s marriages and a devastating fire at Windsor Castle.

By 2012, public approval of the royals had climbed to a peak of 80 per cent, coinciding with celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

That level later fell to 60 per cent in 2022, the year Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96.

Since then, the monarchy has continued to navigate a period of strain, including the highly publicised rift between Prince Harry and Prince William, who are alleged not to have spoken since the Queen’s funeral in 2022.

And the controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who was stripped of his titles over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

In February this year he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.  

Presently, just six in 10 of those asked believe the monarchy plays an important role in Britain’s future, while almost a third think the opposite.  

Twenty-seven per cent of those surveyed by Ipsos said they would prefer to live in a republic rather than a monarchy. 

Meanwhile, six in 10 believed King Charles was doing well in his role, while 71 per cent believed the same of Prince William. 

But the poll indicates the biggest fall in support for the monarchy in the present day is among young people. 

In 2013, 74 per cent of people aged 18 to 34 supported the monarchy, but today this stands at a mere 33 per cent. 

Meanwhile, over half of people aged 35 to 54 back the royal family, with this number rising to 74 per cent among the over 55s group. 

Ipsos carried out the survey with 1,062 adults in March 2026, shortly after Andrew’s arrest. 

The polling firm says it has altered its methodology since June 2025, and uses an online random probability panel. 

It previously used a quota telephone survey.

However, it said that comparisons with previous research needs ‘to be made with caution’. 

Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK Political Research at Ipsos, said: ‘Ipsos’s latest research on public attitudes to the monarchy reveals an ongoing trend that the Royal family should not ignore.

‘The monarchy still has its strengths, and King Charles and especially Prince William remain personally popular with satisfaction ratings that most politicians could only dream of.

‘But to turn this trend around will require convincing young people in particular that the monarchy still has an important, relevant role to play in the future of the country.’