A survey from February 2016 shows that 76% of British adults support the monarchy, though about 60% believe the Queen should abdicate eventually. Regarding Prince Charles, most respondents anticipate he will be a good king, but his support has decreased since the early 1990s. Additionally, opinions are divided on whether the Queen should express views on Brexit.

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Attitudes towards the Monarchy
15 April 2016

2. 76%
17%
7%
Strong majority continues to support Monarchy…
2WOULD YOU FAVOUR BRITAIN BECOMING A REPUBLIC OR REMAINING A MONARCHY?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 504 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016; c. 500-1,000 British adults in each previous poll
MONARCHY/KING OR QUEEN REPUBLIC/ELECTED PRESIDENT DON’T KNOW
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Feb-93
Feb-95
Feb-97
Feb-99
Feb-01
Feb-03
Feb-05
Feb-07
Feb-09
Feb-11
Feb-13
Feb-15

3. 86%
12%
2%
76%
17%
7%
…but it makes a difference how you ask it
3WOULD YOU FAVOUR BRITAIN
BECOMING A REPUBLIC OR REMAINING
A MONARCHY?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 (504 asked first version, 497 asked second version)
MONARCHY/KING OR QUEEN REPUBLIC/ELECTED PRESIDENT DON’T KNOW
DO YOU THINK BRITAIN SHOULD
CONTINUE TO HAVE A KING OR QUEEN
AS OUR HEAD OF STATE, OR SHOULD WE
HAVE AN ELECTED PRESIDENT?

4. 75%
20%
5%
How important is the Monarchy to Britain’s future?
DO YOU THINK THE MONARCHY DOES OR DOES NOT HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY
IN THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016
DOES DOES NOT DON’T KNOW
4

5. How important is the Monarchy to Britain’s future?
Base: c. 800-1,000 British adults 18+ in each poll
5DO YOU THINK THE MONARCHY DOES OR DOES NOT HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY
IN THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN?
Source: Ipsos MORI
1998
28%
66%
6%
25%
70%
5%
DOES DOES NOT DON’T KNOW
1999
29%
67%
4%
2000
20%
75%
4%
2016

6. 32%
61%
7%
21%
70%
9%
Only a minority think the Queen should retire early, but
more are sympathetic when case in favour is put strongly
6
DO YOU THINK THAT THE QUEEN SHOULD
ABDICATE AT SOME STAGE, OR SHOULD
SHE REMAIN QUEEN AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 (504 asked first version, 497 asked second version)
SHOULD ABDICATE/RETIRE SHOULD REMAIN QUEEN DON’T KNOW
THE QUEEN IS 90 THIS YEAR, AND PRINCE
CHARLES HAS WAITED LONGER THAN ANY
OTHER HEIR TO THE THRONE IN BRITISH HISTORY.
SEVERAL OTHER EUROPEAN MONARCHS HAVE
RECENTLY ABDICATED AS THEY REACHED OLD
AGE, AND THE LAST POPE ALSO RETIRED IN HIS
EIGHTIES. DO YOU THINK THAT THE QUEEN
SHOULD RETIRE AT SOME STAGE, OR SHOULD
SHE REMAIN QUEEN FOR LIFE?

7. 60%22%
18%
Most think Prince Charles will make a good King, but he still
falls short of the support he had in the early 1990s
7DO YOU THINK PRINCE CHARLES WILL MAKE A GOOD KING OR A BAD KING WHEN HE
COMES TO THE THRONE IN FUTURE?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016; c. 1,000 British adults 18+ in each previous poll
GOOD KING BAD KING DON’T KNOW
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Jun-91
Jun-93
Jun-95
Jun-97
Jun-99
Jun-01
Jun-03
Jun-05
Jun-07
Jun-09
Jun-11
Jun-13
Jun-15

8. 51%45%
4%
Should the Queen speak out on Brexit?
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE WILL BE A REFERENDUM IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON WHETHER BRITAIN
SHOULD STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION OR NOT. DO YOU THINK THAT THE QUEEN SHOULD OR SHOULD
NOT EXPRESS HER VIEWS IN PUBLIC ON WHAT OUTCOME SHE BELIEVES WILL BE BEST FOR BRITAIN?
Source: Ipsos MORI/King’s College LondonBase: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016
SHOULD SHOULD NOT DON’T KNOW
8

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Contact
roger.mortimore@kcl.ac.uk 15 April 2016