REUTERS: Only a minority of Britons under 50 support the monarchy

[TallerSally]

The chart below, along with the unprecedented level of social media (and even royalty!) mocking around Katespiracy and Katephotogate, could send a chill down the RF's spine.

Whilst 70% of those aged 65+ and 50% of the 50-64 (the demographic on MN?) support the monarchy, this drops to 30% among the 25-49 and ONLY 19% among the 18-24s - YouGov Jan 24 data.

Some will say "that's nowt new!" But with TikTok, X and other SM having unprecedented reach (far more than mainstream media) and cultivating literally thousands of GenZ and Millennial mini-influencers, and with the RF in its current state of turmoil (some of it illness-related, some not, incl. Prince William being largely MIA, the RF's reluctance to deal with Prince Andrew and his grifting ex-wife, Rose Hanbury and extra child (!!) rumours, the casting-out and continued vilification of M&H, the embarrassment that is uncle Gary, etc etc), are comparisons to a decade ago going to be helpful in predicting what this means for the RF in the future? I doubt it.

We all know the billionaire RF continue to sustain their taxpayer and IHT exemption-funded luxury lives thanks to the public's goodwill, hence they employ loads of professional PR people to do their comms. But if there's anything recent events have shown, KP in particular suck at it, with the KP comms team the subject of derision and ridicule around the globe.

It's easy to say "they've weathered worse", but the past isn't a guarantor of the future. I'm sure Boris Johnson also thought he could lie to the public forever... until one day, the tide turned. Not saying this is an identical situation, but the recent lies emanating from KP (I'm sorry, issuing a fake 'proof of life' photo is equivalent to telling a lie) are part of a culture of secrecy and public manipulation.

And consider this: last August, the above numbers were:
80% of those aged 65+ and 67% of the 50-64s support the monarchy, versus 56% among the 25-49s and 37% among the 18-24s. So a drop of 26pp (percentage points) for the 25-49s, and 18pp for the 18-24s.

And who's to say what the numbers will be post-Katephotogate?

https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/uk-monarchy-suffers-an-impairment-its-goodwill-2024-03-13/

🌱

I also think "Commonwealth" popularity is largely fabricated – the myth of the slavish colonial subject.

I was v amused recently to see UK press articles about W&K fans lining up in droves to welcome them to Singapore, complete with a pic of crowds waving tiny Union Jack flags at Changi Airport.

I'm from Singapore myself and Changi Airport is a v crowded and popular place to hang out (lots of good food, kids' activities, study spots, etc)... More to the point, I promise not a single Singaporean, young or middle-aged or very old, actually gives a shit about the English monarchy or could even name any of the main royals. People are way more likely to be obsessed with Hollywood or Korean celebs.

I'm sure they just cordoned off the middle fountain area (which is a prime tourist/photo taking spot hence the crowds there) and distributed those Union Jack flags to everyone. Even if some chap from some forsaken unknown cave turned up, everyone would be cheerily waving and obligingly snapping pics. This made me see all the "cheering ex-colony pics" in a new light lol.

Apart from that, I also think the palace & soldiers (could become London guards in future) are enough of a cultural landmark to attract tourists even sans the RF, like iconic buildings in NYC. Besides London has plenty of icons like red buses, Tower Bridge, Big Ben etc – which I'd say are the main draw for tourists, not a giant gated building they can't go into.

Yes I imagine quite a few Commonwealth countries will be following the example of Barbados in future:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59470843

spritebottle · Today 04:57
I also think "Commonwealth" popularity is largely fabricated – the myth of the slavish colonial subject.

Although I'm mildly a monarchist, I agree that the Commonwealth has probably run its course, or will do soon. But that's not to say it didn't have an role at a point in history. I alsothink it's unfair to imply that it's been forced on anyone - it was meant to be a benign, friendly group with absolutely no-one forced either to join or stay in. In fact, many countries actively wanted to be members and I've read that some small countries felt it gave them 'a place at the table' which they wouldn't otherwise have had. I think even some countries which weren't part of the Empire have asked to join.

Of course many member countries will now move on and leave, and that's a natural progression. Even as a monarchist, I have no problem grasping that! But be careful what you wish for because there are far less benign influences than the British crown which will see their opportunity here. China in particular is agitating in several Commonwealth countries and is pushing them towards leaving for its own purposes, and those purposes are concerning.

"Slavish colonial subjects" - well, it's entirely optional. They leave, we won't send gunboats.
It's worth bearing in mind that some Commonwealth members were not part of the British Empire, so clearly some people must think membership is advantageous.
It is, however, entirely the choice of the nation involved. That does not make their membership "slavish".

Oh, and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex had (along with her husband) a senior Commonwealth role when a working British Royal, so she clearly didn't object to the premise.

I think the Boomers are the last right wing / establishment generation. Although they weren't always like that as they were part of the 60s and 70s counter culture before Thatcher reset everything.

That seems like a pretty offensive and way-off-the-mark generalisation. It even defeats itself with its own internal contradictions - hippy counter-culture and the 1979 Tory landslide. It is almost as if you can't explain social trends by assuming that everyone whose birthday is in a certain date range behaves and think in the same way.

The population during those decades was as full of contradiction and difference as the population now - based on class, sex, and all the other variables within a certain date range. Increasingly, people who talk dismissively of particular generations sound as plausible and enlightened as astrologers, who give birth sign the same significance as ageists give to birth decade.

I'm heartened that 27% of the people in my age range do not support the monarchy. I'm depressed by the fact that there seems to be a growing, not falling, obsession with the monarchy. I don't think you can blame 'boomers' for that.

Who did they actually poll because my dd falls into the under 25 bracket her and her friends love the RF and have never heard of reuters

Almost all the Commonweath countries already have done this, you do realise?

The British Royal family is now head of state in only 14 countries, the late queen having overseen the move to independence in more than 50 during her long reign. The rest will also move to independence in their own time - I think that’s inevitable (and I can’t see anyone in the British royal family being overly concerned by this!). Having done so, however, it’s also likely most will choose to remain members of the Commonwealth - as Barbados has also done.

I think some posters think we are still living in 1899. The Commonwealth today is about economic support. No one is forced to do anything. Many countries are independent but still members. It's not a threat to the monarchy at all. It is the sign of a modern monarchy moving on but still showing their responsibilities to former colonies.

I admit I don't know the history of other colonies but this one is quite ironically hilarious to me bc Britain has a very strong/universal reputation of doing just that in Singapore – British army & government dropping their pants in fear and fleeing when the Japanese came. It's the one famous legacy of colonial rule lol

The Brits tried to come back and resume their rule after WWII and the country was like, nope, get out of here, just keep running the way you ran

Not wishing to take anything away from the very interesting discussion on both sides (before it went a bit scary), those results are exactly what you’d expect surely? 18-24 year olds aren’t going to be very interested in a constitutional monarchy. I’m surprised as many as 50% are not actively in favour of a republic.

Do we have any data on what people in the same age group were saying, say, fifty years ago?

Given the age of the population in the UK, the other data on that chart could be quite encouraging to those who favour a monarchy, especially a modern one.

Apologies if this has been covered, I stepped away from the thread for a bit while the blood and fur were flying.

Have my own opinions on the China thing, which probably mirror the general opinion in this region of the world (some valid fears but undermined by extremely sensationalised Western press, and I've seen outright possibly intentional mistranslations on reputable press like The Guardian, verified by my simply pressing "play" on the video in question for example; you could equally paint a sinister picture of America with satellite views of its prison industrial complex etc) but anyway, I just used the Commonwealth as a catch-all phrase for ex-Empire.

I also think that, if you've studied the history of colonialism – I understand it's not taught properly in UK schools; the relentlessly regular atrocities through the region were stomach-turning when we learnt about them in our local syllabus, plus the vast majority of formerly independently rich countries were financially wrung dry and relegated to 3rd world poverty by the Brits, so really didn't have much choice economically afterwards either – it's a bit hard to see the arrangement/aftermath of colonialism as entirely voluntary... But genuinely, this isn't really a conversation I'd bother having in a country that only knows to parrot "we gave them trains"...

As you said there's a place for political alliances though. That could still exist without the RF, like what's termed the "special relationship" between the US and UK, or the slightly more awkward AUKUS. I just personally suspect a fair portion of the "pro-RF" overseas sentiment is probably manufactured through images of essentially rubbernecking random crowds squeezed in a corner due to main roads being cordoned off, being given flags to wave, and told to smile by RF press relations officials.

Spritebottle
I just used the Commonwealth as a catch-all phrase for ex-Empire.

NOW you tell me - that's a bit 'Alice in Wonderland'!

And I was using Commonwealth in the way it's specifically understood and defined in a dictionary. Call me old-fashioned.

Jeez.

I was there and it actually was very busy

Spritebottle
Besides London has plenty of icons like red buses, Tower Bridge, Big Ben etc – which I'd say are the main draw for tourists, not a giant gated building they can't go into.

Hello? They can go into it.

@Salemforcuddles very neat but pls be careful about sharing any more personal details. What’s coming out right now is scary.

They can. I can. I could. I did, - obviously tugging my forelock and fawning to high heaven as I moved through the rooms. Oooh, fawny, fawny, fawny.

In Kensington Palace the public can go around some parts, which have history posted all round them. I shall have a look to see how often it's (short for 'it is') open.

Literally crying with laughter over your fawny fawn fawn.

actually gives a shit about the English monarchy It's the British monarchy actually

@spritebottle that may be true in your circle but your leading newspapers show a very different story as to knowledge of the British Royal Family.

@upinaballoon I went to see the Holbeins and the coronation paraphernalia at BP. I put my back out genuflecting, and because I'm brown, instead of helping me they colonised me instead and took away my house.

<insert Guardian sad face>

Motley crew of around 10 republicans outside Worcester Cathedral today, having a protest while Queen Camilla attended to give out Maundy Money. Drowned out by the crowds singing God Save The King. And some sweet interaction between Camilla and some young girls - yes under 25s - holding up get well wishes for Catherine.

Re 'Not my King'
Rishi Sunak is 'not my Prime Minister', then.
Frankly, I am not pro Monarchy, but not anti either.
All the time people follow them and turn up at various events, then it will continue.
I suspect there will come a time, when this ceases, and then they will be abolished.
(Note. I have never gone to any Royal Event, and so far, have not watched the coronation, or the late Queen's funeral, tho I did watch Philips funeral (not the later memorial service).
Meanwhile, I am quite OK with it, as it is.

'I promise not a single Singaporean, young or middle-aged or very old, actually gives a shit about the English monarchy or could even name any of the main royals.'

That's odd - last time I was in Singapore, about 18 months ago, most people I talked to spoke about The Queen, her death and funeral and the Coronation. Everyone seemed to know who Kate, William and their children are. And no prompting from me

The Straits Times and local magazines seems to have a fair few articles about the royals - weird if Singaporeans aren't interested.