Canada Divided on the Monarchy
Prince Charles unlikely to be beloved should the Queen
abdicate
Toronto,
August 23rd – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ amongst
1150 Canadian voters, almost half of Canadians (43%) are opposed to abolishing
the monarchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth, while (41%) are in favour, a
statistical tie. Just over one in ten (16%) said they do not know.
When
we last tested this question we saw just over four in ten (43%: July 11, 2016)
in favour of abolishing the Monarchy and four in ten (40%: July 11, 2016)
opposed.
Respondents
most likely to say they are opposed to the abolition of the monarchy include
those aged 65+ (56%), the most wealthy (52%), living in the Atlantic provinces
(54%), Ontario (53%), or the prairies (MB/SK) (55%), supporting the Liberal
party (51%), and with a college/university degree (50%).
Respondents
most likely to say they are in favour of the abolition of the monarchy include
those aged 35-44 (49%) or 45-54 (47%), males (46%), earning $40,000-$60,000
(54%), living in Quebéc (71%), supporting the Bloc Quebécois (89%), and with a
post-graduate degree (47%).
Opinion split on
King Charles if Queen abdicates
Canadians were also
split on how they would feel if Prince Charles became king following Queen
Elizabeth’s abdication.
Just under four in
ten (TOP2: 37%) said they approved of Charles becoming king if Queen Elizabeth
abdicated, with (17%) saying they strongly approve. Just over a third (BTM2:
34%) say they disapprove, with (17%) saying they strongly disapprove.
A quarter (25%) have
no strong feeling either way, saying they neither approve nor disapprove, while
a small proportion (4%) reported they do not know.
Respondents most
likely to approve of Prince Charles assuming the throne include males (40%),
the most wealthy (44%), and supporting the Conservatives (39%) or Liberals
(41%)
Respondents most
likely to disapprove of Prince Charles assuming the throne include those aged
45-54 (39%) or 55-64 (40%), living in Quebéc (36%), the prairies (MB/SK) (37%),
or Alberta (38%), supporting the NDP (45%), and with a post-graduate degree
(41%).
Prince William, still
most admired, but plurality still doesn’t admire royal family
Prince
William, is the royal family’s most admired member, with the exception of the Queen,
according to a quarter (26%) of Canadians. This support is statistically
equivalent to when we tested the question in September 2016, when he had the
support of (Sept 2016: 25%) of Canadians.
Kate
Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge is admired by just under one sixth (16%) of
Canadians, which is slightly lower than her previous support of two in ten (Sept
2016: 20%).
Prince
Harry is admired by just over one in ten (14%), almost the same as in 2016
(Sept 2016: 13%)
Prince
Charles (5%), Prince Phillip (4%), Prince George (2%), and Princess Charlotte
(2%) were admired by a much smaller proportion of Canadians.
The
plurality, however, almost a third (30%), say they do not admire the royal family,
similar to the proportion seen previously (Sept 2016: 29%).
"Canadians have been divided on the abolition of the monarchy for some time, and while the margins shift a few points up and down with each poll, it's remained a divisive issue, with no side gaining traction," said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President
of Forum Research. “Many Canadians continue to support Queen Elizabeth
but the same might not be said for her successor, Prince Charles, considering
Prince William is the most admired royal family member.”
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.
