The monarchy under King Charles III will need to do more if it is to appeal to younger people and ethnic minorities, according to new Focaldata research for thinktank British Future, released today (2 May).
The new research finds:
Around six in ten people in Britain (57%) support the UK having a monarch, King Charles III. One in five (19%) are opposed – 10% ‘strongly’ – with a further fifth (21%) on the fence. But the institution has work to do in order to stay relevant in modern Britain, with weaker support for the monarchy among young people aged 18-24 (33%) and ethnic minorities (47%).
While support for the monarchy among ethnic minority Britons is weaker among ethnic minorities, this is story of ambivalence and generation change rather than one of republicanism. Only 17% ethnic minority respondents say they are opposed to the monarchy, while three in ten (31%) are on the fence and a further 5% don’t know. Support for the monarchy among younger people from an ethnic minority background is weaker still, at 37%, compared to 50% of those aged over 65.
But young people in general appear most ambivalent about the monarchy, with 26% of those aged 18-24 opposed and 41% saying they are either on the fence (31%) or don’t know (10%). By contrast, 74% of over-65s support the UK having a monarch.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“King Charles has already set out his stall as a multiculturalist King and this Coronation will seek to blend tradition with a changing Britain. He wants the monarchy to act as a bridge between Britons from different ethnic and faith backgrounds.
“The Monarchy does maintain majority support – but these findings show that this project is much-needed if the new King wants the monarchy to sustain its relevance in a changing Britain.”
Photo by Roberto Catarinicchia on Unsplash
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