By royal biographer Emily Andrews
CAN THE MONARCHY SURVIVE?
King Charles and Queen Camilla will be enjoying a coronation bounce in the popularity polls after they were officially crowned in Westminster Abbey.
But for how long? There is still broad support for the monarchy as an institution, but King Charles is well aware that can change in a generation. He and Queen Camilla have not always enjoyed high personal ratings, and yes, we public can be fickle!
The long reign of Queen Elizabeth II had significant family turmoil but was largely a period of stability and continuity for the monarchy. Recent visits up and down the country by King Charles have seen anti-monarchy protesters making their presence felt. These anti-monarchists, led by pressure group Republic, acknowledge that they have targeted the start of his reign deliberately. They were reluctant to protest when the late Queen was alive for fear of alienating the public. But now the gloves are off.
A number of polls were conducted prior to the coronation to gauge the public mood. One YouGov opinion poll suggested muted support, with 58% of the 5,000 asked preferring the monarchy to an elected head of state – which was supported by 26%.
In particular the monarchy seems to have a problem appealing to younger people. Of course, we all change as we get older and many a parent or grandparent has chuckled at the folly and opinions of youth. But it’s not just young people – in a separate YouGov poll last month, 35% of everyone polled said they didn’t care ‘very much’ and 29% ‘not at all’ about the coronation.
So what are the issues? Well, the cost of living crisis and lots of public sector workers striking for higher wages has made many question why an estimated £50 million to £100 million of taxpayers’ money was spent on the coronation.
The wealth of the Royal Family, where it came from and the continuing questions over the legacy of colonialism continue to have an impact. And polling suggests that perceptions of the Royal Family’s attitudes to race are also a factor – peop
