Public backing for Britain's Royal Family has plummeted to its lowest point since records began, with just 51 per cent of Britons now viewing the monarchy as important, fresh data from the British Social Attitudes survey reveals.
The findings emerge as King Charles prepares to welcome President Donald Trump for an extraordinary second state visit to Windsor Castle next week.
The National Centre for Social Research's latest polling marks a dramatic shift in public sentiment, with the proportion considering the monarchy important having tumbled from 86 per cent when first measured in 1983.
President Trump's September 16-18 visit represent an unprecedented second official visit to the UK, having made the trip during hist first term in 2019.
Support for the Royal Family has slumped to a record low, according to new polling
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Nearly one-third of respondents now consider the monarchy unimportant, a threefold increase from just 10 per cent four decades ago.
The proportion advocating complete abolition has surged to 15 per cent, up from a mere three per cent in 1983.
When presented with a direct choice, 58 per cent of participants expressed preference for maintaining the monarchy, whilst 38 per cent favoured transitioning to an elected head of state.
This recent poll is the first time such a question has been posed in the survey's four-decade history.
The new data has emerged just a week ahead of President Trump's State Visit to the UK
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Deeper in the date, political allegiances sharply divide monarchist sentiment.
Conservative and Reform UK voters showed overwhelming support at 82 per cent and 77 per cent respectively.
Labour's base remains deeply split, with 49 per cent backing the monarchy against 48 per cent preferring an elected alternative.
Generational differences also proved stark, as younger Britons increasingly favour a move away from the Royal Family compared to older respondents.
Just 51 per cent of Britons now viewing the monarchy as important, the data suggested
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Disparities were also found among the regions of the UK, with 59 per cent of Scottish respondents and 64 per cent of Welsh participants supporting an elected head of state.
English and British-identifying citizens demonstrate stronger monarchist leanings at 68 per cent and 62 per cent respectively.
NatCen's analysis notes: "Support for the monarchy is strongest among older, right-leaning individuals, while those who favour an elected head of state tend to be younger and more left-leaning."
Alex Scholes, research director at NatCen, observed: "Support for the monarchy is now at its lowest level since our records began, with more people than ever questioning its future.
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The worrying data has been exposed as King Charles reunited with Prince Harry in London
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"At the same time, when asked to choose directly, a majority of the public still prefer to keep the monarchy over moving to an elected head of state.
"This tension, between declining importance and continued preference, will be crucial in shaping debates about the monarchy's role in the years ahead."
The comprehensive study interviewed 4,120 randomly selected UK adults between 16 September and 27 October 2024, incorporating Northern Ireland residents for the first time
This new data has emerged as the royal world was rocked by the reunion of King Charles and Prince Harry in London.