2023 ends badly for the royals with a new Savanta poll showing peoples’ preference for having a monarchy in the UK at just 52%. At the end of the coronation year those who prefer an elected head of state has climbed to 34%.
 
When asked "What would you prefer for the UK, a monarchy or an elected head of state?" a third said they would prefer an elected head of state.
 
Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said today:
 
"This is a watershed moment for the anti-monarchy movement, with 1 in 3 now wanting to elect their head of state."
 
"Polling since the start of the year has consistently shown a big drop in support for the monarchy over the past decade."
 
"2023 was supposed to be the year the royals secure their future."
 
"The palace had to manage the transition from Elizabeth to Charles. To do that they had a quarter of a billion pounds to spend on the most expensive PR extravaganza this country has ever seen."
 
"The royals were able to rely on more friendly media coverage than they could ever hope for, and a cavalcade of important people lining up to talk up its greatness, history, importance and necessity."
 
"Yet all that effort and expense has failed to shift the dial in their favour, instead the year ends with a record number wanting to elect the UK's head of state."
 
"With one in three people now preferring a republic this issue has to be addressed seriously by politicians and media. We are not a nation of royalists, and in time we will become a nation that overwhelmingly wants the monarchy gone."
 
"The question now is not if, but when the monarchy is abolished."  
 
Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,283 UK adults aged 18+ online between 24th and 26th November 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. 

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