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The King receives a major vote of confidence today, with the news that the majority of Britons believe he is doing a good job.
A landmark poll to mark the first anniversary of Charles’s Coronation also shows a strong increase in support for the Monarch in the past 12 months.
The survey, conducted for The Mail on Sunday, also shows a clear majority of the public want to keep the monarchy, with only around a quarter wanting a republic.
In further good news, the survey shows the approval ratings of all members of the Royal Family have risen since last year – except for Meghan, whose popularity is unchanged.
The vast majority also feels Buckingham Palace has shared enough information about the health of the King and the Princess of Wales, both of whom are receiving treatment for cancer.
King Charles pictured waving on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the day of his Coronation
Following Kate’s Mother’ Day photo editing scandal, young people said they distrusted images released by the Palace
But while the exclusive analysis for the MoS will be welcomed at the Palace, it also hints at the challenges facing the monarchy.
Following the furore around the Princess of Wales’s edited Mother’s Day photo, one in three of the 2,166 British adults surveyed by Ipsos said they did not trust the accuracy of pictures released by the Royal Family – and young people were the most sceptical.
Gideon Skinner from the polling firm, warned: ‘As the King returns to public duties he is greeted by a further boost in favourability ratings for himself and other core members of the Royal Family.
‘The question for the monarchy is whether this is a short-term improvement driven by a swell in public sympathy or whether it can be maintained – particularly among younger generations where the Royals need to focus their engagement efforts.’
The survey also reveals:
Some 60 per cent of Britons believe we should keep the monarchy, with 28 per cent preferring a republic;
The Prince and Princess of Wales are the most popular members of the Royal Family with 69 per cent approval ratings, while just one in eight give their backing to Prince Andrew;
There is an age divide, with one third of young people saying it ‘would be better’ if the monarchy was abolished, compared with just one in six of older people;
King Charles and Queen Camila. A year into the new monarch’s reign, a new poll shows in increase in support for the monarchy
One in three people think Prince Harry should become a full-time royal on a temporary basis while the King and the Princess of Wales suffer with their health
Despite Meghan’s new business ventures including her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, she continues to thought of poorly with just 25 per cent having a positive view of her
The Prince and Princess of Wales are the most popular members of the Royal Family with 69 per cent approval ratings
Conservative voters are the most supportive of the Royal Family, but King Charles noticeably has strong backing across the political spectrum.
Of all those surveyed, 56 per cent said Charles was doing a good job as King, a healthy increase of seven percentage points compared with April 2023.
He has also won over voters of all stripes, with 73 per cent of Conservatives, 68 per cent of Liberal Democrats, and 49 per cent of Labour voters agreeing he has done ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ well.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said: ‘These results should be very reassuring for King Charles. Compared to politicians, he is well ahead of the game.
‘As monarch, he can appeal to both sides of the political spectrum and be a representative of the country who doesn’t have to climb the greasy pole of politics and has a certain modesty because he’s there by fate.’
Queen Camilla’s popularity – based on the number of people who said they had ‘favourable’ views of her – has increased to 43 per cent, from 38 per cent in a similar Ipsos poll last April.
The public are still divided on her title, with the majority, 35 per cent, thinking she should be ‘Queen Consort’.
But the proportion who approve of ‘Queen Camilla’ has grown from just 14 per cent last year, according to a survey by Deltapoll, to 25 per cent now.
Mr Vickers said: ‘If we were to single out the stars, Queen Camilla has come out of this year absolutely brilliantly. At the age of nearly 77 she has been the front face of the monarchy.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers (pictured) has said that the survey results should be reassuring for the King
The Queen’s popularity has improved markedly although many are still divided on her title. Pictured: Queen Camilla at the re-launch of her Wash Bags scheme which provides victims of rape with a bag of toiletries donated by Boots
Prince Andrew attending the Easter Matins Service at St Gorge Chapel, Windosr Castle
Prince Andrew being questioned by Emily Maitlis in what had now become an infamous interview and has veen been turned into a Netflix film
‘Who’d have thought it, Mrs Parker Bowles distributing the Maundy money?
‘She’s been running the extra mile, and you have to remember her work behind the scenes boosting the King’s morale.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales are the most popular royals, with 69 per cent of the public having a positive impression of them both individually.
This is a rise on last year’s Ipsos survey, from 61 per cent for William and 59 per cent for Kate.
Royal author Margaret Holder said: ‘There is enormous sympathy for Kate after her cancer diagnosis and for William too, who is trying to cope with this awful period for them as a couple and as parents of young children.
‘But even before this, as Prince and Princess of Wales they generated a lot of popularity for the monarchy and were seen to be relevant with their campaigns…
‘In a visual age, it helps that they are an extraordinarily photogenic family – the face of the future.’
Princess Anne, often praised for her work ethic and no-nonsense attitude, continues to be held in high regard, with 64 per cent having a good impression of her, up from 59 per cent last year.
Princess Anne, often praised for her work ethic and no-nonsense attitude, continues to be held in high regard, with 64 per cent having a good impression of her
Princess Eugenie of York at a reception and panel discussion on the fashion industry’s commitment to sustainability
Princess Beatrice attending her sister Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel, Windsor
After the release of Netflix’s drama Scoop, which portrayed the Duke of York’s disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview, Andrew is the least popular royal, with just 12 per cent of the public liking him.
The Sussexes continue to languish near the bottom of the rankings, with just 25 per cent having a positive view of Meghan and 31 per cent liking Harry.
But the couple are more popular with young people, with 49 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds viewing the Prince as ‘favourable’ compared to 18 per cent of 55- to 75-year-olds.
For Meghan, the comparable figures are 42 per cent against 12 per cent. One in three think Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, should become a full-time royal on a temporary basis while the King and the Princess of Wales suffer with their health.
It comes as the Prince prepares to visit Britain this week for the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games, sparking speculation as to whether he will have a meeting with his father.
More popular are Eugenie and Beatrice, with just over 40 per cent supporting their return to royal duties.
Mr Vickers said of the Princesses: ‘I think the Palace really ought to use them. They’re very well brought up, have university degrees and do charity work.’ Far fewer – 16 per cent – would welcome their father Andrew back into the fold.
Prince William and Harry and King Charles at the 2014 Invictus Games. Prince Harry is heading tot he UK for the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games and many hope he will meet with the King
Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in a brief TV clip following months of speculation over her health. Since her announcement her popularity has soared
In heartening news for Palace aides, nearly 70 per cent said the Royal Family had released ‘the right amount’ of information about the King’s health and 65 per cent felt the same for Kate.
In January, Buckingham Palace revealed the King was having treatment for an enlarged prostate and in February said he had an unspecified type of cancer.
By contrast, Kensington Palace revealed the Princess of Wales was in hospital only after her ‘planned abdominal procedure’ was completed in January.
Conspiracy theories soon whipped around the world, and in March Kate released a video explaining she was having preventative chemotherapy after cancer was found in tests.
Royal commentator Richard Palmer, who has reported on the Windsors for 20 years, said: ‘I think the Royal Family should be reassured by the results of this survey.
It shows they have adopted the right strategy in dealing with this unprecedented health crisis.’ Exposing the challenging path ahead, one third of the public does not trust the accuracy of pictures released by the Royal Family.
There is a generational divide, with 44 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds saying they ‘do not trust’ the validity of photos shared by the royals, compared with just 20 per cent of 55- to 74-year-olds.
But Mr Palmer said: ‘I don’t think the Royal Family should be too concerned that young people are less trusting of images they share. I suspect it is a result of that generation’s suspicion of all information from official sources.’
Despite much handwringing about the impact of The Crown, only 37 per cent of the country has seen the controversial Netflix show.
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