Monarchy Support Plummets to 45% Amid Andrew's Epstein Scandal
A new opinion poll has revealed that public support for the British monarchy has fallen to just 45%, a significant decline linked directly to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal involving Prince Andrew. The survey, commissioned by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, indicates a three percentage point drop from 48% over the last four months, highlighting growing public disillusionment with the royal institution.
Police Assessment of Confidential Document Claims
Thames Valley Police confirmed on Monday that they are actively assessing allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential reports from his former role as the UK's trade envoy with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These serious claims emerged among three million documents recently made public by the US Department of Justice, adding further weight to the scandal that has engulfed the royal family.
Buckingham Palace responded to the developing situation by stating that King Charles has expressed his "profound concern" regarding the allegations about his brother's conduct. The Palace further emphasized that they will "stand ready to support" police investigations if approached about these fresh claims, marking a significant shift in the royal response to the controversy.
Additional Allegations Surface in Document Release
The newly released documents contain multiple disturbing allegations beyond the trade envoy claims. According to the files, a second woman was allegedly sent to the United Kingdom by paedophile Epstein specifically for a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew. Furthermore, there are claims that both Andrew and Epstein asked an exotic dancer for a threesome at Epstein's Florida residence, painting a troubling picture of the former prince's associations.
These revelations come against the backdrop of previous allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year. Giuffre had claimed she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, including when she was just 17 years old and during an orgy, after being trafficked by Epstein. Although Andrew paid millions to settle the civil sex case with Giuffre in 2022, he has consistently denied ever meeting her and maintains his innocence regarding all wrongdoing.
Polling Data Reveals Shifting Public Sentiment
The research conducted by Savanta over the weekend before the Palace's official comments shows that while support for the monarchy has declined to 45%, those who would prefer an elected head of state remain steady at 32%. However, the most notable shift appears in the "don't know" category, which has risen from 20% to 24% since October, suggesting increasing uncertainty about the institution's future.
This polling was carried out after Prince Andrew agreed to stop publicly using his royal titles and honours in October 2025, and following King Charles's decision to strip him of his right to be a prince and remove his dukedom. The timing indicates that these previous actions by the royal family have not stemmed the decline in public confidence.
Royal Family's Public Response and Public Reaction
The Prince and Princess of Wales publicly addressed the Epstein scandal for the first time on Monday, with Kensington Palace releasing a statement saying they were "deeply concerned" at the "continued revelations" and that their thoughts "remain focused on the victims." This represents a notable departure from previous royal silence on the matter.
Public discontent manifested directly during a royal engagement when King Charles was heckled during a visit to Lancashire. As he arrived at Clitheroe train station, a man shouted "How long have you known about Andrew?" demonstrating how the scandal has begun to affect even the monarch's public appearances.
Campaigners Call for Constitutional Debate
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic who reported Andrew to police over the trade envoy allegations, stated emphatically: "The monarchy is losing its one claim to legitimacy, opinion poll ratings. The trend across most polling is declining support, and this poll shows how low that support has gone."
Smith stressed the "urgent need" for a "serious and honest debate" about a post-monarchy Britain, adding: "The monarchy is not going to reverse this trend of falling support. The late queen was the one person keeping this creaking institution going. Even her legacy is now being tainted by the Andrew scandal."
The poll surveyed more than 2,100 adults across the United Kingdom, asking them directly: "What would you prefer for the UK: a monarchy or an elected head of state?" The results suggest a potentially transformative moment for British constitutional arrangements as the royal family grapples with one of its most damaging scandals in modern history.
