We should abolish the monarchy, say one in four Britons
MORE than one in four Britons support abolishing the monarchy, a poll has revealed.
Some 27 per cent now back replacing the royals with an elected head of state, the survey found.
But the Queen and her family still enjoy approval ratings most politicians could only dream of, with 60 per cent of the British public still in favour of having a monarchy.
The YouGov survey was conducted in the run-up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But it found the tide of public opinion is slowly turning against the royals.
A similar poll last year found 61 per cent were in favour, with 24 per cent against.
Ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 10 years ago, up to 75 per cent of the public supported the monarchy in some polls.
The latest survey also showed a generational divide. While 79 per cent of people over 65 want to keep the monarchy, 40 per cent of those under 25 would like to see it abolished.
Republic, the group that wants to replace the monarchy with an elected head of state, commissioned the survey of 1,754 adults.
Graham Smith, Republic’s chief executive, said: “It appears support for the monarchy is on a slow puncture.
“It’s the Queen who continues to sustain support. That’s a huge problem for the royals, because at some point in the next few years she will no longer be there to keep the show going. It’s time the country started to have a serious debate about the monarchy – what it’s for, what it represents and what democratic alternatives are on offer. “I am confident that sooner than most people might expect, a majority of people in this country will want the monarchy gone.”