A new study says the nation remains undecided on whether or not the Royal Family is a luxury we cannot afford. Conducted by Ipsos, the study comes as the Queen prepares to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.
The poll found a majority of people think the Queen should remain as monarch as long as possible rather than abdicating. It also found 40% of people think Prince Charles would make a good king, while 20% think he would do a bad job.
Ipsos surveyed 1,039 British adults about the future of the Monarchy. Those polled were asked if they agree or disagree that the royal family is an expensive luxury the country cannot afford.
It found 38% said they agree, 36% said they disagree, and the rest said they do not know or neither agreed nor disagreed. Accounts for the Sovereign Grant show the monarchy cost the taxpayer £87.5 million during 2020/21 – an increase of £18.1 million on the previous financial year.
The survey found younger people were more likely to think the royals are a luxury the country cannot afford, with 48% of 16-34-year-olds agreeing with the statement, compared with 22% of 55-75-year-olds. Some 66% of those surveyed said they think the Queen should keep doing her job for as long as possible, with 23% saying she should abdicate at some stage.
The remainder of those surveyed said they did not know. The survey found that people were split over whether they think Charles will reduce the cost of the monarchy if he becomes king, with 40% saying they think it is likely that he will and 43% saying they think it is unlikely.
Asked if they think the Duke of Cambridge would do a good job or bad job as king, 74% said they think he would do a good job and 7% said they think he would do a bad job.
