But His Majesty’s personal reputation surpassed that of the institution he presided over. The YouGov poll shows that 68% have a favorable opinion of the monarchy at the moment. Unlike his mother, King Charles III’s reputation only matches that of the crown, with 70% viewing him favorably. That number rose overnight during his ascension to the throne, with his favorability ratings typically hovering between 50% and 60% over the past 11 years. In the case of both the institution and the current occupant, it is likely that at least some of this surge in popularity is a temporary spur fueled by the emotion of the moment. Some Britons may also answer the question differently now that it relates to the King – rather than Prince – Charles. However, these numbers look very healthy. Surely, any politician would kill to be seen so favorably by so many. But the long-term outlook for the monarchy may not be as stable as it seems. Bubbling under the surface is causing growing resentment among younger people. Currently, only 47% of 18 to 24-year-olds say Britain should continue to have a monarchy, compared with 86% of Britons aged 65 and over. Even this level of support among young people may be temporarily inflated: just 33% had expressed a desire to retain the crown in May, at the time of the platinum jubilee. Such frustration is a relatively new development. As recently as 2015, 69% of 18 to 24-year-olds said Britain should remain a monarchy. By 2018 this had fallen to 47%, and in polls from 2020 onwards, before the Queen’s death, it averaged just 35%. Today’s level of support for an elected head of state among under-25s (33%) is largely in line with the average since 2020 (37%). Before the end of 2019, this figure was never higher than 24%. By contrast, older Britons – those aged 65 and over – remained resolutely in favor of the institution. The notion that the monarchy is good for the country also no longer seems to wash with the young. While 61% of 18-24 year olds were convinced of the benefits in 2015, today that figure stands at 33%, and the 24% it was in May likely reflects better attitudes in more stable times. Similarly, young Britons are split 40% to 39% on whether the royal family represents good or bad value. And even amid all the displays of patriotism over the Queen’s death, just 31% of 18- to 24-year-olds say they are proud of the British monarchy. They say they are ashamed. It does not seem likely that the new King will be able to generate a renewed enthusiasm for the institution among the young. At the time of his accession, views of Charles III among young Britons are split: 41% have a positive view of him compared to 43%. However, this may again be a temporary boost in favorability compared to more ‘normal’ periods – 20% had a positive view in May and our data showed no notable accompanying decline in the number with an unfavorable view (47%). That said, one area that may benefit King Charles III’s standing among young people is his historical honesty. Seven out of 10 18- to 24-year-olds say it would be appropriate for the King to speak openly about issues they care about. This is probably due to the fact that the environment is such a topic of interest to the new King, a topic that is of great importance to young people. It is possible that younger Britons could feel positively about the new monarch, if not the monarchy, as an environmentally focused king – as long as his candor does not extend to other issues that might alienate young people. Of course, at this stage it is not clear what the long-term picture will be for the monarchy. Public opinion about the popularity of the crown and the new monarch will become clearer in the coming months as the world’s shock at the death of Britain’s longest-serving monarch sinks in and a new relationship with our last sovereign is formed.
