Calls for ‘honest debate’ about monarchy as support falls amid Epstein scandal
A new poll has found that support for the monarchy has fallen amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The proportion of British people supporting the monarchy has fallen by three percentage points to 45 per cent, according to a poll commissioned by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic.
The King has publicly expressed his “deep concern” about allegations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday.
The Palace added that it would be “ready to provide support” if the police were contacted regarding new allegations.
Thames Valley Police has confirmed it is considering suggestions that the King’s brother shared secret reports with Britain’s convicted sex offender Epstein about his role as a trade envoy.
The new allegations emerged among three million tranches of documents related to Epstein made public by the US justice department.
There are also allegations that a second woman was sent to England by pedophile Epstein to have sex with Andrew, and that the former prince and Epstein solicited a threesome from an exotic dancer at his Florida home.
Savanta’s research, conducted over the weekend before the Palace’s statements, showed that the rate of those who prefer an elected head of state remained at 32 percent, but the rate of those who did not know has increased from 20 percent to 24 percent since October.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales addressed the Epstein scandal publicly for the first time on Monday; Kensington Palace said it was “deeply concerned” by the “ongoing revelations” and its thoughts were “focused on the victims”.
One day, when the king was in Lancashire, a man asked: “How long have you known Andrew?” He was left in a difficult situation by shouting. After arriving at Clitheroe railway station.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, which reported Andrew to the police over his trade ambassador allegations, said: “The monarchy is losing its only claim to legitimacy: opinion poll ratings.
“The trend in most polls is for support to decline, and this poll shows just how far that support has fallen.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations against Andrew, it is not surprising that support has waned.”
He stressed there was an “urgent need” for a “serious and honest debate” about post-monarchy Britain.
Mr Smith added: “The monarchy will not be able to reverse the trend of declining support. The late queen was the only person keeping this creaking institution afloat. Even her legacy is now tarnished by the Andrew scandal.”
The survey asked more than 2,100 adults “What would you prefer for the United Kingdom: a monarchy or an elected head of state?”
Savanta’s previous investigation was carried out shortly after Andrew agreed to stop using royal titles and honors publicly in October 2025, and before the King stripped him of his right to be a prince and abolished the dukedom.
Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times; but she vehemently denies this, including during an orgy when she was 17 and also after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sex case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.
The former duke has always denied any wrongdoing.
