Support for the monarchy has plummeted below 50 per cent in Scotland following the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a new poll has found.
Polling by Diffley Partnership, published in Scotland on Sunday, found only 48 per cent of Scottish residents want to see King Charles remain as head of state.
And 43 per cent of pollers said they would prefer to see the monarchy replaced with an elected alternative, with that number rising to 55 per cent for those aged between 16 and 34.
The slump in the polls comes after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday last month.
Support for the monarchy has dropped below half in Scotland, a new poll suggests
|GETTY
He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, regarding his links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew was released after 11 hours in police custody, being pictured and last seen in the back of a vehicle on his way back to Wood Farm, where he currently lives.
Andrew has not been seen since his arrest, with only a few visitors taking the time to go see the former duke.
His Majesty was only a couple of miles away from his brother last week, but opted out of paying the former prince a visit.
The polling data also found that people based in the Highlands and Islands are the most pro-monarchy region within Scotland, with 70% prefering the King to an elected head of state.
Only 54 per cent of the North East were in support of the monarchy, the lowest of any region.
Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office | REUTERSMike Diffley, founder and director of Diffley Patnership, told Scotland on Sunday: “The recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has again thrown the spotlight on the royal family and the level of support it continues to have with the public.
“Our new poll will give some cause for concern for royal supporters, revealing as it does that fewer than half of Scots – 48 per cent – support the retention of the monarchy and that, among those who express a view, 43 per cent would prefer Britain to have an elected head of state.”
Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie said: “The reality of the monarchy is now clear for all to see.
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“We have an outdated, unelected, unaccountable head of state who, along with his extended family, costs the taxpayer £500 million a year.
“In return for that, this royal family has routinely interfered with legislation to benefit their own private financial interests.
King Charles has given Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor a wide berth since his arrest
| GETTY“Scotland can and should be a modern European nation with an elected and accountable head of state.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always strongly denied any allegations of wrongdoing and currently remains under investigation.
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