The Royal Family has weathered the latest storm surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor without suffering a crash in support for the monarchy. Polling conducted in the wake of the former prince’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office shows four out of 10 Britons think the country would have a worse future if the monarchy was abolished – with just 24% saying this would lead to a better future.
Nearly eight out of 10 people (78%) have an unfavourable impression of Mountbatten-Windsor. Fewer than one in 10 (9%) has a favourable impression. But the Ipsos research found 55% think King Charles is doing a good job, with only 9% saying he is performing badly. Just 26% of Britons say the Royal Family has handed the Mountbatten-Windsor situation badly, with 38% saying it has managed it well.
Princess Anne has the third highest favourability rating (59%), ahead of the King (50%) and the Queen (34%).
Prince Harry is out of favour with the public. Forty-two per cent have a negative impression of him, with just three out of having a favourable one.
The situation is worse for his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Half of Britons see her unfavourably, with a mere 23% thinking of her favourably.
There is strong confidence the monarchy will ensure in Britain. Seventy-seven per cent think it is likely it will still exist in a decade’s time; 72% expect it to be there in two decades; and 56% anticipate Britain still having a monarchy 50 years into the future.
Former Leader of the Commons Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg expressed his faith the monarchy will endure.
He said: “The monarchy is a powerful and enduring symbol of the nation. It is constitutionally important that it flourishes. As it has survived much greater scandals than this one I am sure it will.”
However, Graham Smith of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said: “I’m quite certain we will become a republic. Asking people to imagine change is very different to asking if they want it. All the indications are that the monarchy is losing support and will continue to do so. People under the age of 50 are increasingly against the royals, and with so much scandal and so little relevance the monarchy is on borrowed time. Whether it has 20 years or 50 years, we will see.”
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