Public support for the British monarchy has fallen below 50% for the first time, according to a new Savanta poll that also reveals widespread distrust of the royal family’s handling of the Prince Andrew scandal.
The survey, commissioned by the anti-monarchy group Republic, found that only 46% of respondents said they were in favor of the monarchy, down sharply from 60% in June, while 39% said they were opposed.
A majority of those surveyed said they believed that members of the royal family knew about Andrew’s alleged behavior before it became public.
Sixty-one percent said it was “likely” the royal family knew about the allegations, and 57% called for an investigation into what senior officials knew and when.
More than three-quarters of those surveyed said Andrew should be criminally investigated, and 70 percent said police had not done enough.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents said being stripped of their titles was an inadequate punishment.
Republic chief executive Graham Smith said the findings show “the monarchy is in deep trouble”, adding that “people clearly want a wider inquiry” and a “national debate about the future of the monarchy”. .
The report is based on a statement Republic posted on its website summarizing the Savanta poll commissioned by the group.
