Support for Britain retaining the monarchy has fallen to its lowest level in 33 years, according to a new Ipsos poll. Just over half of British people (55%) still want the country to remain a monarchy, representing an 11 percentage point drop since 2023 and the lowest level since Ipsos began polling on the Royal Family more than three decades ago.
Decline from Diamond Jubilee Peak
The poll highlights a marked change in public opinion. In 2012, at the time of the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, support for the monarchy was at 80%. This dropped to around 60% at the time of her death in September 2022. The current 55% figure is the lowest recorded in 33 years of Ipsos polling.
Generational Divide
According to Ipsos, the drop in support has been driven by young people. Only 33% of 18 to 34-year-olds support a monarchy, while 45% would prefer a republic. In contrast, older people aged over 55 are more supportive, with 74% backing a monarchy compared to 14% who would like a republic.
King Charles and Prince William Approval Ratings
When it comes to the King, 60% say they are satisfied with the job he is doing as monarch, which Ipsos says is ‘broadly in line’ with his ratings since he took the throne. However, these ratings are lower than those of his mother, the late Queen, who averaged 79% satisfaction between 1992 and 2022. Prince William’s approval ratings are higher than his father’s, with 71% satisfied with the job he is doing, though Ipsos notes this is lower than his peak of 89% in 2012.
Role of the Monarchy in Britain’s Future
Six in ten (60%) still say the monarchy has an important role to play in the future of Britain, while 30% do not. The research, which polled 1,062 UK adults, was carried out in March 2026, just weeks after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Methodology and Expert Comment
The polling organisation points out that it changed its methodology in June 2025, saying that “comparisons with previous waves need to be made with caution”. Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK political research at Ipsos, said: “Ipsos’ latest research on public attitudes to the monarchy reveals an ongoing trend that the Royal Family should not ignore. While the majority of the country remains pro-monarchy, and outnumbers republicans by 2:1, support for the institution is the lowest we have measured for 33 years. This is underpinned by a growing age gap in views, with younger generations now more republican than monarchist, and even middle-aged people much less supportive than at the peak of the Royals’ popularity in the Diamond Jubilee year of 2012. 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.”
