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/

That will be no Revolution. As I have said nothing will be changing in my lifetime or quite likely my children's

It’s happening whether you mention names or not!

To answer your main question; it’s a very difficult issue precisely because, currently, there are no easy mechanisms through which the populace can make their feelings known about monarchy, and bluntly, they are never asked! It is just assumed that the population either agrees with it or is fine with the status quo! God forbid uk citizens are actually encouraged to give this question some serious thought!

I have no idea why this is the case, because if monarchy is as popular as everyone makes it out to be, you would think that the powers that be would not be so defensive and allow us a referendum or at least some serious debates on the topic.

The protocol surrounding a hereditary monarchy dictates, as we saw immediately after the passing of the late Queen, that the next monarch is proclamated by heralds within a day or two without any discussion or debate.

Personally, I feel it would have been respectful to the UK population, after a reign of seventy years, to consult them about what they want.

As it stands, the only way currently for an ordinary citizen to make their Republican views known is to talk to their MP (who as pp has pointed out, has already sworn allegiance to the crown), join a campaign group, and be active and try and sway hearts and minds in any way possible eg posting on sm.

So you are right, the way forward for republicans is not clear or easy and that in itself, imho, is part of the problem.

Highly pertinent questions indeed. And I wonder whether, as hardship continues to bite Millenials and Zoomers, and as the public services around them continue to decline, they might start raising these questions more, and more forcefully.

The ‘royals’ have no mandate .
Therefore they need to enjoy a clear majority of support or the situation becomes very problematic

Agree. Which is why the drop in support of those under 50, if sustained and accelerated, should be of some concern...

As it stands, the only way currently for an ordinary citizen to make their Republican views known is to talk to their MP (who as pp has pointed out, has already sworn allegiance to the crown), join a campaign group, and be active and try and sway hearts and minds in any way possible eg posting on sm

So you are right, the way forward for republicans is not clear or easy and that in itself, imho, is part of the problem.

You are so right and I actively engage in all you have said and of course I do link Norman bakers book at every opportunity but I imagine a true royalist would really have a fainting fit reading it!

Why not? With that defeatist attitude, why should anyone join republic?!

No action to be taken so no rush of Brexit shitshow , let’s just ask the question in any way that seems reasonable

It won't happen. I am realistic that is all

However I look for change, big change. I think only the queen and King should be working members of the RF.

I don’t consider telling someone to calm down when I have posted perfectly calmly is within the spirit of Mumsnet. Goady, actually. Not that I was even having the discussion with you anyway.

@Mymilkshakebringsallthepapstomycar
I thought your post wa still of references to ‘revolution’ and ‘foot soldiers’ which is all very overwrought

Apologies if that wasn’t you

Oh and @Novella4 I am a woman of colour. That sort of belittling language to shut down voices like mine feels all too familiar. Please refrain.

Very helpful, thanks @Artapplicapplications787

The other way to look at this is, the monarchy has had literally hundreds of years to protect its hold on Britain through constitutions, laws, traditions etc.

I believe QE2 was the latest to behind the scenes be actively continuing the tradition of protecting the RF from all manner of disclosure and anti-discrimination laws which apply to everyone else in Britain's democracy.

Obv it will take more than a few letters to MPs, marches and SM posts to achieve any significant change.

But again, public opinion matters in a democracy... why else would the RF be so invested in it, if it didn't?

I am fairly pessimistic about this issue but not quite as pessimistic as Roussette 😀

There’s no statistical soundness to this observation at all, but my young adult dc have next to no interest in the Royal Family. Unlike most of my friends when we were that age, they don’t know their names and they can hardly identify any of them accurately except perhaps for KC.

So I’m very much hoping that the relevance of the RF will continue to diminish and the institution will die a natural death.

How is this republicanism though? Do you envisage an in tact constitutional monarchy, just smaller? That’s really not so different to what Charles said he wanted to put into place. And which he may well do without a republican movement driving it.

You realise people can read your posts, right? You took a partial quote from Roussette's post to try and score a point...ignoring the rest of what she wrote which makes it clear the recent shenanigans are the only time her DC have mentioned the Royals. Why you feel the need to misrepresent that and keep doubling down is a bit mystifying.

Yes it is all down to public opinion and support
For me what would suit, knowing they are going nowhere, is just the king and queen working doing their bit signing papers with support from their enormous staff and less of all the extended family poncing about

Who needs to see this family walking to church all the time or whatever. Why is that relevant to the general public?

No I really didn’t.

I jumped in to the discussion to protest against everyone piling on Roussette.

Please address your concerns to Mumsnet Towers if you feel you have a legitimate complaint.

Thank you. I only mentioned I've been here nearly 20 years and was comfortable in my own skin because of what was said to me below.
I take it back, I shouldn't have said it but I was just trying to illustrate that I am okay posting on here and do not need to "rethink"

Maybe rethink posting on an online public forum if people responding offends so much

@Mugglewumppp

Please contact MNHQ and ask them to look at the posts between us starting at your first one to me at 1509 today.

That is what they are there for if you feel like you do

I felt you totally misrepresented my original post by only picking out bits of it

But perhaps we can act like sensible women and just move on between us? I'm happy with that if you are. 😊👍

I do think KC was on to something with the slimmed down idea, though at this point it's unclear where this stands.

I very much doubt that the younger generations are going to be excited about funding the lifestyles of the likes of Prince Andrew and Fergie, plus all the other hangers-on.

And others such as Hugh Grosvenor (Duke Westminster), who just inherited £10 billion fortune without paying any inheritance tax, an mind-boggling opportunity cost to the taxpayer.

Could it be that the more things are tough for that generation, the more likely they are to reject the status quo with the RF and other IHT-exempt aristocracy?

(and by the way, why is Hugh Grosvenor exempt from IHT?)

Absolutely agree. Republicanism is about so much more than just abolishing Monarchy. It’s about extending power and true democracy to more than just the privileged few and rebuilding our flawed system of government.