Royal Family Poll - Summary of Findings

Overview

Detailed topline findings from the poll

• A resounding endorsement of the monarchy: Less than half (40%) say they would favour having a referendum on the future of the monarchy.
• If there were a referendum seven out of ten (71%) people say they would vote in favour of Britain remaining a monarchy.
• Three-quarters (77%) think that Britain will still have a monarchy in ten years time but only one in five (19%) think that will have a monarchy at the turn of the next century. This is in line with recent years, but very different from the figures we were recording 10 years ago (see trends).
• Three in five (60%) people agree that the future of the monarchy is safe in the hands of the younger members of the Royal Family.
• Charles is up on the popularity stakes, 38% saying he is their favourite Royal. (+14 points on last measure in Oct 1998). He now in line with the Queen (39%). Financial support he has given to the farmers for the foot and mouth outbreak may have helped him, but Charles has been improving in the polls for a couple of years now.
• Ratings for the Queen and remain unchanged since 1998; 39% The Queen, Charles and Princess Anne are the favourites among those aged 55+., whereas Charles, William and the Queen are the top three for those aged 18-43 years.
• William also up 8 points (22% compared with 14%).
• Queen mums popularity down 10 points (19% compared with 29% in 1998) presumably due to low profile.
• Only 2% say their favourite Royal is the Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones. (Edward scores 4%)
• There is strong support for the Queen to stay Queen as long as possible; 61% versus 34% who think she should abdicate. This latter figure has been increasing gradually since the mid 1990s.

Charles and Camilla

• Three in five people (57%) say that Charles should not give up his right the throne in favour of his eldest son, Prince William.
• Women are more likely to say that Charles should give up his right to be the next king in favour of William than men (38% versus 30%)
• 46% think that if Charles and Camilla stay together, they should get married. (29% want them to continue outside marriage).
• Analysis by gender shows that men are more likely to say that they should marry than women (50% versus 43%) whereas women are more likely to say they should they should continue the relationship outside marriage (33% versus 24%).
• If Charles and Camilla do marry, there is strong support (three in five people; 59%) that Charles should still be allowed to become king. However, 70% feel that Camilla should not become Queen by his side.
• Women more likely to say that she should not become Queen than men (74% versus 66%).

In business or full time Royals?

• Over half (55%) think Sophie Rhys-Jones was wrong to speak openly about other members of the Royal family and leading politicians.
• 46% agree that Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones are unfairly using their positions as members of the Royal Family to help their own businesses (This compared with 33% who disagree; -9%).
• Let her get on with it - Two thirds (66%) of people feel that Sophie should not be banned from having business activities outside of her Royal duties, although a quarter (24%) believe she should.
• Support for Edward to continue with his business activities outside of his Royal duties is similar; (64%) believe he should not be banned and three in ten, 29% believe he should.