Backing for the British monarchy has plummeted to its lowest point in over three decades of Ipsos research, with just 55 per cent of the public now wanting the country to remain a monarchy.
The dramatic 11 percentage point decline over the past three years represents a significant decline in support for the Crown.
The survey of 1,062 British adults was carried out in March 2026, in the weeks following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Younger generations have proven particularly disenchanted, with merely a third of those aged 18 to 34 expressing support for maintaining the monarchy.
The trajectory of public sentiment towards the Royal Family has seen considerable fluctuation over the decades.
In 1993, following Elizabeth II’s “annus horribilis” marked by the Windsor Castle fire and the collapse of three royal marriages, approval stood at 69 per cent.
Support subsequently climbed to reach its pinnacle of 80 per cent during the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.
From that high watermark, backing for the institution gradually diminished, settling at 60 per cent in the year preceding Her Majesty’s death in 2022.
Backing for the British monarchy has plummeted to its lowest point in over three decades of Ipsos research, with just 55 per cent of the public now wanting the country to remain a monarchy
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GETTYThe generational divide in attitudes towards the Crown has now become particularly stark.
Among those aged 18 to 34, support has collapsed from 74 per cent in 2013 to just 33 per cent today.
Middle-aged Britons show somewhat greater enthusiasm, with slightly more than half of 35 to 54-year-olds backing the Royal family.
The over-55s remain the institution’s most loyal supporters, with nearly three-quarters continuing to favour the monarchy.
Despite these concerning figures, six in ten respondents believe the Crown still has a meaningful part to play in Britain’s future.
However, 30 per cent disagree, whilst 27 per cent would prefer a republic altogether.
There has also been a recent increase in anti-monarchy demonstrations at major royal events.
At this year’s Trooping the Colour, protest group Republic held a placard that read “Down with the Crown”.
There has been a recent increase in anti-monarchy demonstrations at major royal events
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GETTYIn addition, protesters held two photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. One depicted him in conversation with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, believed to be taken while on a walk in Central Park, New York.
The second, which was released as part of the Epstein Files earlier this year, shows Andrew appearing to be on all fours and kneeling over an unidentified female, who was on the floor.
The King and Queen were also met with anti-monarchy sentiments ahead of the King’s Speech in the House of Lords on their journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK Political Research at Ipsos, cautioned that the findings reveal a pattern the Royal Family cannot afford to dismiss.
“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,” he observed.
Indeed, the poll found that six in ten Britons believe the King is performing well, while an impressive 71 per cent say the same of the Prince of Wales.
“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,” Mr Skinner added.
However, recent YouGov polling, particularly after the King’s recent visit to the US, in fact shows support for the Monarchy tracking higher than pre-accession year.
