A new survey has recorded the lowest level of support for the monarchy in 40 years, with calls for complete abolishing of the Firm starting to rise
Public support for the monarchy has dropped to an all time low ahead of President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, according to a new survey.
The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) have conducted their British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey, which shows the lowest level of support for the Firm for the first time since the question was first posed to the public 40 years ago.
When the question was first asked in 1983, over four in five (86 per cent) people in Britain said it was ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’ to continue having a monarchy. In 2024, only around a half (51 per cent) now take this view, showing how drastically the public’s views on the monarchy have shifted over the years.
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In contrast, the number of Britons who say the monarchy is ‘not very important’ or ‘not at all important’ has risen from one in ten (10 per cent) in 1983 to around three in ten (31 per cent) in 2024. Support for outright abolition of the monarchy has also grown, from just three per cent in 1983 to 15 per cent in 2024.
The BSA data shows that a higher number of people over the age of 55, as well as more Conservative voters, are more in favour of retaining the monarchy over younger generations and Labour supporters.
Support for the monarchy has not always been on a steady decline, and has rather fluctuated over the years depending on major events. It rose sharply in 2011 and 2012, coinciding with the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, and her participation in the London Olympics.
But since then, support has fallen steadily, with a brief rise following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 before resuming its decline.
Alex Scholes, Research Director, National Centre for Social Research, said: “British Social Attitudes has been tracking views on the monarchy for over 40 years, and the latest data show just how much opinion has shifted. Support for the monarchy is now at its lowest level since our records began, with more people than ever questioning its future.
“At the same time, when asked to choose directly, a majority of the public still prefer to keep the monarchy over moving to an elected head of state. This tension, between declining importance and continued preference, will be crucial in shaping debates about the monarchy’s role in the years ahead.”
The survey findings come ahead of the state visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK.
King Charles will host the US leader at Windsor Castle from September 17, when Mr Trump will be feted with a ceremonial welcome and a state banquet. The trip will be Mr Trump’s second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented gesture for a US president.