Support for the monarchy has dropped to 45%, a three-point decline from 48% over the past four months, according to a new poll commissioned by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic. The survey, conducted by Savanta over the weekend, found that those favouring an elected head of state remained at 32%, while the 'don't know' category rose from 20% to 24%.
The poll comes amid fresh allegations linking Prince Andrew to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Buckingham Palace stated on Monday that the King has expressed 'profound concern' over the claims and will 'stand ready to support' the police if approached. Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing suggestions that Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as UK trade envoy with Epstein.
New documents released by the US Department of Justice 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 allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who died last year, that she was forced to have sex with him three times, including when she was 17.
Republic's chief executive Graham Smith, who reported Andrew to the police, said: '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.' He called for a 'serious and honest debate' about a post-monarchy Britain.
The King was heckled during a visit to Lancashire when a man shouted about Prince Andrew. Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed 'deep concern' over the revelations, with Kensington Palace saying their thoughts 'remain focused on the victims'.
