Prince William Most Admired Royal

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Prince William Most Admired Royal

Most think he should be next King

In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1326 Canadian adults, Prince William tops the list of the most admired members of the Royal Family with one quarter selecting him (25%). This is just less than the proportion of Canadian voters who don’t admire the Royal Family (29%). In second place among favourite royals is the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly Kate Middleton (20%). Third place belongs to the dashing Prince Harry (13%). Few other royals are admired (Prince Charles - 6%, Prince Philip - 4%, Prince George and Princess Charlotte - 2% each).

Admiration for Prince William is common to the oldest (42%), females (29%) rather than males (21%), and among Liberals (29%). Admiration for his wife is common to young middle age groups (35 to 44 - 25%), females (26%), not males (13%), among Green party voters (25%) and moms (34%). Admiration for Prince Harry is characteristic of the least wealthy (20%), mid income groups ($60K to $80K - 17%), New Democrats (19%) and those from eastern European backgrounds (19% - caution: small base size).

One third will follow royal visit closely

In total, about one third of Canadian adults will follow the royal visit next week closely (36%), but just one tenth will follow the visit “very closely” (10%). Two thirds won’t follow closely, or at all (62%). Following the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge very closely is characteristic of the least wealthy (16%), those in BC, where the visit will take place (20%), those from the British Isles (16%), southern European (15%), eastern European (16%) and South Asian backgrounds (17% - caution: small base sizes).

Close to half disagree Prince Charles should succeed

Close to one half of Canadians disagree Prince Charles should succeed his mother as Head of State in Canada (45%) and just one third agree he should (32%). As many as a quarter don’t have an opinion (23%). This stands in contrast to just two months ago, when more than half disagreed he should succeed (54%), and just fewer than 3-in-10 thought he should (29%). Those who agree he should succeed to the Canadian throne include males (36%) rather than females (29%), residents of Ontario (37%), the prairies (39%) and BC (43%), but not Quebec (19%). among Conservatives (40%), Anglophones (37%) rather than Francophones (19%), the least and best educated (37% each.

Prince William seen as best King of Canada

Close to 4-in-10 pick Prince William as the best choice to be Canada’s next King and Head of State (38%), and this is just more than the proportion who do not offer a choice (35%). His father and brother have each the support of about one tenth (11% each).

Even split on whether Canadian monarchy will last until King George VII

Just more than one quarter believe Prince George will one day be Canada’s monarch and Head of State (27%), and an identical proportion think he will not (28%). Close to half don’t care to look that far in the future (45%).

Vast majority say opinion of monarchy hasn’t changed or has grown better

Almost all adult Canadians (85%) say their opinion of the monarchy hasn’t changed in the past 5 years (61%) or that it has grown better (24%). Just one sixth say their opinion has grown worse (15%), and this is common to those in mid-income groups ($60K to $80K - 20%), the Atlantic provinces (24%), among New Democrats (20%) and Greens (23%), among the best educated 19%), southern Europeans (32%) and South Asians (19% - caution: small base sizes)

“Canada loves its Royal Family, despite the republican grumblings of a slight minority. Its just that Canada doesn’t love all its royal family members equally. It seems clear that the appearance of Prince William and his glamorous wife on the scene, and their impending trip here, has galvanized popular interest in the succession again, with the predictable result that most Canadians want to skip a royal, something for which there is no historical or constitutional precedent. It is curious to note, however, that while close to a third say they do not admire the royal family at all, only about a tenth say they will not follow the royal visit at all” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

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.