Support for the monarchy has fallen to 45%, according to a new poll commissioned by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic. The Savanta survey, conducted over the weekend, found a three-percentage-point decline since October, with 32% of Britons favouring an elected head of state and 24% unsure.
Buckingham Palace said on Monday that the King had expressed “profound concern” over allegations concerning the Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and would “stand ready to support” police if approached. Thames Valley Police confirmed it was assessing claims that Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as trade envoy with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The new allegations emerged among millions of documents released by the US Department of Justice. They include claims that a second woman was sent to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew, and that he and Epstein asked an exotic dancer for a threesome. Andrew has denied wrongdoing and settled a civil case with Virginia Giuffre in 2022.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also addressed the scandal for the first time, stating they were “deeply concerned” by the continued revelations and that their thoughts remained with the victims. Meanwhile, the King was heckled during a visit to Lancashire when a man shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew?”
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: “The monarchy is losing its one claim to legitimacy, opinion poll ratings.” He called for a “serious and honest debate” about a post-monarchy Britain, adding that the late Queen’s legacy was now being “tainted by the Andrew scandal.”
