Prince Andrew is still the most unpopular royal in the country with 87% of Brits having a negative view of him, latest YouGov poll reveals
Prince Andrew remains the most unpopular royal in the country, with a staggering 87 per cent of people having a negative view of him.
The news rounds off a disastrous week for the King’s shamed brother following the publication of an explosive new biography of the prince, serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail.
According to a new YouGov survey just five per cent of people have a favourable view of the Duke of York, who remains eighth in line to the throne and is still a counsellor of state who can deputise for the king, despite being forced to give up royal duties over the Epstein scandal.
Hot on his heels, equally unsurprisingly, are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Just 28 per cent of people have a positive opinion of Prince Harry, with fewer still saying the same of Meghan, who languishes at 20 per cent.
YouGov said the results are ‘little different’ from its previous survey in May, although Meghan’s figure does remain the joint-lowest on record.
This has also been an unpalatable week for the prince following an official Charity Commission report into a toxic row between him and his former charity, Sentebale.
Harry was criticised, along with its former trustees and current chair, for allowing the poisonous falling-out to become public, gravely damaging the organisation’s standing and reputation.
Prince Andrew remains the most unpopular royal in the country, with a staggering 87 per cent of people having a negative view of him
Prince Andrew is seen in public for the first time after a scathing new biography about the Duke of York’s life was released
Just 28 per cent of people have a positive opinion of Prince Harry (pictured with Meghan Markle in April 2022)
Prince William once again tops the royal league table, with 74 per cent of Britons having a positive opinion of the first in line to the throne.
His wife, the Princess of Wales, is similarly popular at 71 per cent, with ever-popular Princess Anne also coming in at 70 per cent.
But, perhaps worryingly, for the monarchy is that the poll shows only 36 per cent of 18-24 years olds think it is good for the country.
While overall a healthy six in ten Britons think we are better off with it, it does suggest that the institution may be failing to cut through with the younger generation.
While 81 per cent of the over 65s say that Britain should continue to have a monarchy, this falls with each age group to just 41 per cent of 18-24s.
Similarly, King Charles is liked by only three in ten (30 per cent) of 18-24 year olds but three quarters (77 per cent) of the over-65s.
Harry and Meghan are looked upon more favourably by young Britons than their elders, although they are still net unpopular across all generations.
Only 17 per cent of over-65s have a positive view of Prince Harry, compared to 33 per cent of 18-24 year olds, and just 10 per cent of the oldest Britons feel favourably towards Meghan, compared to 25 per cent of their youngest counterparts.
Some 3,000 people were approached while researching Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York
The Duke of York is seen leaving Westminster Abbey after the Coronation of King Charles III
It is alleged in the biography that Prince Andrew was dubbed ‘sex obsessed’ and a ‘perverted animal’ by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He is pictured with Virginia Giuffre
Beyond the individual royals, the British public are still clear in their support of the royalty – six in ten Britons have a positive view of both the family as a whole (62 per cent) and the underlying institution of the monarchy (58 per cent).
This is roughly double the number of Britons holding the opposing views, with three in ten (30 per cent) holding a negative opinion of the ruling family and 32 per cent sceptical of the monarchy.
A similar split is true when thinking about the constitutional future of the royal family.
Two-thirds of the British public (65 per cent) believe we should continue to have a monarchy, while a quarter (23 per cent) would favour an elected head of state instead.
The idea that Britain should remain a monarchy is fairly broad, being held by 89 per cent of Conservative voters, 76 per cent of Reform UK voters, as well as clear majorities of Lib Dem (67 per cent) and Labour (57 per cent) voters – although only 39 per cent of Greens.
In all 59 per cent of Britons say the monarchy is good for Britain, 54 per cent see the royal family are good value for money, and 47 per cent say that they are proud of the monarchy. Only 17 per cent say they are embarrassed by it.
In total of 2292 adults in Great Britain were quizzed between August 5 and 6.
