Prince William now the most popular royal as monarchy rides high in national poll

Wills is the most popular royal in recent history, support for the monarchy is at a 20-year high and younger britons want succession to miss out Charles
p7 Manadatory Credit: Photo by Canadian Press / Rex Features (1365695ae) Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at a concert in Ottawa Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge Royal Tour of Canada - 01 Jul 2011 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge take in the Canada Day evening celebrations and performances in Ottawa
Rex
20 November 2012

Prince William is the most popular royal in recent history and support for the monarchy is on a 20-year high, a poll reveals today.

William, 30, is well ahead of the Queen, his wife Kate and even Diana when people were asked to name two or three of their favourite members of the royal family.

He was mentioned by 62 per cent of respondents to a King’s College London/Ipsos MORI survey. It is the highest rating achieved in the seven surveys the pollster has conducted since 1984.

The Queen was mentioned by 48 per cent, followed by Harry (36 per cent), the Duchess of Cambridge (23 per cent) and Charles (21 per cent). Diana’s highest score over the past 30 years was 47 per cent.

Today’s poll of 1,104 adults, conducted from November 10-13, shows how the younger royals have helped the Queen engineer a recovery in the popularity of the monarchy since the 1992 “annus horribilis” of divorces and scandals and Diana’s death in 1997.

But it also suggests a willingness, particularly among younger Britons, for the succession to jump a generation and for the Queen to be followed by William rather than his 64-year-old father.

Charles’s score was down from 50 per cent in 1984 and 38 per cent in 2001, while Camilla was mentioned by only two per cent. St James’s Palace aides will hope the successful tour of Australia and New Zealand will kick start a revival in their ratings. Ipsos Mori director Roger Mortimore, professor of public opinion and political analysis at King’s College London, said: “A lot of people would like the idea of William succeeding straight away. He is young and good looking and popular.”

Young people were more likely to mention William while older respondents chose the Queen who is 86. Professor Mortimore said: “I think young people can see something of themselves in William and Kate. They can see the monarchy looking more modern than it did beforehand.”

Next month William and Kate will start to establish their own power base away from Charles when their aides transfer from St James’s Palace to Kensington Palace.

The couple, who will take on a greater number of royal engagements, already have a cottage in the palace grounds and will next year move into Princess Margaret’s former apartment once refurbishment is complete.

The Queen ends her Diamond Jubilee year with nine in 10 Britons satisfied with the way she is doing her job and 79 per cent in favour of retaining the monarchy, with only 16 per cent backing a republic.

Her 90 per cent satisfaction rating is the highest in the past two decades and is more than double the 40 per cent ratings of David Cameron and Ed Miliband. But the poll shows how the popularity of her children has slumped as attention focuses on William, Kate and Harry.

Like Charles, the ratings of Princess Anne, Andrew and Edward have fallen by half or more over the past decade. Philip is unique among the older royals in seeing his popularity increase.

According to the survey there was a general sense that the royal family was too big a drain on the taxpayer. The Queen received £31 million this year for her official duties, excluding the cost of police protection and military ceremonies.

Some 52 per cent agreed that “the royal family should not receive as much money as it does”, while 47 per cent disagreed.

However, the long-term future of the monarchy appears safe. Six in 10 believe Britain will have a monarchy in 50 years, and 42 per cent believe it will survive 100 years.

Professsor Mortimore said: “After a rocky period in the Nineties, public support for the monarchy and the Queen now looks as strong as it has been for many years.

“Most of the public now expect the monarchy to survive well into the future and that is probably the best guarantee that it will do so.”

The results will be considered at 1pm on Friday at a King’s College London debate on the changing nature of the monarchy during the Queen’s reign. For free tickets, visit http://tinyurl.com/crhjmnl.

William’s wildlife charity today announced plans to honour people working to save endangered species in Africa.

Tusk is seeking nominations for conservationists who have spent a lifetime protecting wildlife and up-and-coming experts whose work has already made an impact. Two prizes, worth £30,000 and £10,000 will be awarded next year.

Which two or three members of the royal family do you like most?

(Percentages; April 2001 in brackets)

Prince William 62 (22)

The Queen 48 (39)

Prince Harry 36 (7)

Duchess of Cambridge 23 (n/a)

Prince Charles 21 (38)

Princess Anne 14 (28)

Prince Philip 11 (5)

Prince Andrew 2 (10)

Duchess of Cornwall 2 (n/a)

Prince Edward 1 (4)

None 5 (13)

Your say: 'They’ve loosened up a bit'

David McGuinness, 35, estate agent from Clapham: "William and Kate are starting to drag the royals into the 21st century. William will help bring the family into the modern world. He and his wife have a more a modern appeal. I am originally from Dublin and there is a big wave of love coming to the royals from Ireland because of the Queen’s visit last year."

Georgia Colderwood, 25, risk analyst from Earl’s Court: "They have loosened up a bit and the Kate and William thing is beautiful. It’s a really nice love story. They seem more normal than before, especially Harry. Plus Kate isn’t aristocratic. That makes them more relatable. There was also the wedding and the way they opened it up to everyone."

Jess Vickers, 26, nurse from Australia living in Shoreditch: "I think for many people the royal family is a means of escapism. The Jubilee and royal wedding increased their popularity, but, for me, they are not very relevant. We have become a more merit-based society. I feel what we do and how hard we work is more important."

Junor Souza, 23, dancer with the English National Ballet, from Notting Hill: "I think the royals are amazing. I have danced at Buckingham Palace — it was incredible to be inside. The young royals have more energy to do things. Everyone respects the Queen too because she has been doing her job for so long."

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