Republicanism in the United Kingdom is the political movement that seeks to replace the United Kingdom'smonarchy with arepublic. Supporters of the movement, called republicans, support alternative forms of governance to a monarchy, such as an electedhead of state. Monarchy has been the form of government used in the United Kingdom and its predecessor domains almost exclusively since theMiddle Ages, except fora brief interruption in the years 1649–1660, during whicha republican government did exist under the leadership ofOliver Cromwell.
After Cromwell's Protectorate fell and themonarchy was restored, governing duties were increasingly handed to Parliament, especially with theGlorious Revolution of 1688. The adoption of theconstitutional monarchy system made the argument for full republicanism less urgent. It was once again a topic of discussion during the late 18th century with theAmerican Revolution, and grew more important with theFrench Revolution, when the concern was how to deal with the French Republic on their doorstep. This led to a widespread anti-republican movement in Britain, and the issue was dormant for a time.
Dissatisfaction with British rule led to a longer period of agitation in the early 19th century, with failed republican revolutions inCanada in the late 1830s andIreland in 1848. This led to theTreason Felony Act in 1848, which made it illegal to advocate for republicanism. Another "significant incarnation" of republicanism broke out in the late 19th century, whenQueen Victoria went into mourning and largely disappeared from public view after the death of her husband,Prince Albert. This led to questions about whether or not the institution should continue, with politicians speaking in support of abolition. This ended when Victoria returned to public duties later in the century, and regained significant public support.
More recently, in the early 21st century,increasing dissatisfaction with theHouse of Windsor, especially after thedeath of Elizabeth II in 2022, has led to public support for the monarchy reaching historical lows.[1][2][3]
In Britain, republican sentiment has largely focused on the abolition of the British monarchy, rather than the dissolution of theBritish Union or independence for itsconstituent countries. InNorthern Ireland, the term "republican" is usually used in the sense ofIrish republicanism. While also against the monarchy, Irish republicans are against the presence of the British state in any form on the island of Ireland and advocate creating aunited Ireland, an all-island state comprising the whole of Ireland.Unionists who support a British republicalso exist in Northern Ireland, but they do not call themselves republican.
There are republican members of theScottish National Party (SNP) in Scotland andPlaid Cymru in Wales who advocate independence for those countries as republics. The SNP's official policy is that the British monarch would remain head of state of an independent Scotland, unless the people of Scotland decided otherwise.[4] Plaid Cymru have a similar view for Wales, although its youth wing,Plaid Ifanc, has an official policy advocating a Welsh republic.[5] TheScottish Socialist Party and theScottish Greens both support an independent Scottish republic.[6][7][8]
Advocacy of the replacement of the monarchy with a republic has long been an imprisonable offence in law. TheTreason Felony Act 1848 prohibits the advocacy of a republic in print. The penalty for such advocacy, even if the republic is to be set up by peaceful means, is lifetime imprisonment. This Act remains in force in the United Kingdom.[9] However, under theHuman Rights Act 1998, theLaw Lords have held that although the Treason Felony Act remains on the statute books it must be interpreted so as to be compatible with the Human Rights Act, and therefore no longer prohibits peaceful republican activity.[10]
Since the 1650s, early modern English republicanism has been extensively studied by historians.James Harrington (1611–1677) is generally considered to be the most representative republican writer of the era.[11]
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Thecountries that now make up the United Kingdom, together with the nowRepublic of Ireland, were briefly ruled as a republic in the 17th century, first under the Commonwealth consisting of theRump Parliament and theCouncil of State (1649–1653) and then underthe Protectorate ofOliver Cromwell and later his sonRichard (1658–1659), and finally under the restored Rump Parliament (1659–1660). The Commonwealth Parliament represented itself as a republic in the classical model, withJohn Milton writing anearly defence of republicanism in the idiom of constitutional limits on a monarch's power.[citation needed] Cromwell's Protectorate was less ideologically republican and was seen by Cromwell as restoring the mixed constitution of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy found in classical literature and English common law discourse.[citation needed]
First, theKingdom of England was declared to be theCommonwealth of England and then Scotland and Ireland were briefly forced into union with England by the army. Cromwell andThomas Fairfax were often ruthless in putting down the mutinies which occurred within their own army towards the end of the civil wars (prompted byParliament's failure to pay the troops). They showed little sympathy for theLevellers, an egalitarian movement which had contributed greatly[citation needed] to Parliament's cause, but sought representation for ordinary citizens. The Leveller point of view had been strongly represented in thePutney Debates, held between the various factions of the army in 1647, just prior to the king's temporary escape from army custody. Cromwell and the grandees were not prepared to permit such a radical democracy and used the debates to play for time while the future of the King was being determined.Catholics were persecuted zealously under Cromwell.[13] Although he personally was in favour of religious toleration – "liberty for tender consciences" – not all his compatriots agreed. The war led to muchdeath and chaos in Ireland, where Irish Catholics and Protestants who fought for the Royalists were persecuted. There was a ban on many forms of entertainment, as public meetings could be used as a cover for conspirators; horse racing was banned, themaypoles were famously cut down, the theatres were closed, and Christmas celebrations were outlawed for being too ceremonial, Catholic, and "popish".[citation needed]
Much of Cromwell's power was due to the Rump Parliament, a Parliament purged of opposition to grandees in theNew Model Army. WhereasCharles I had been in part restrained by a Parliament that would not always do as he wished (the cause of the civil war), Cromwell was able to wield much more power as only loyalists were allowed to becomeMPs, turning the chamber into a rubber-stamping organisation. This was ironic given his complaints about Charles I acting without heeding the "wishes" of the people. Even so, he found it almost impossible to get his Parliaments to follow all his wishes. His executive decisions were often thwarted, most famously in the ending of the rule of the regional major generals appointed by himself.[citation needed]
In 1657, Cromwell was offered the crown by Parliament, presenting him with a dilemma since he had played a great role in abolishing the monarchy. After two months of deliberation, he rejected the offer. Instead, he was ceremonially re-installed asLord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland (Wales was a part of England), with greater powers than he had previously held. It is often suggested that offering Cromwell the crown was an effort to curb his power: as a king, he would be obliged to honour agreements such asMagna Carta, but under the arrangement he had designed he had no such restraints. This allowed him to preserve and enhance his power and the army's while decreasing Parliament's control over him, probably to enable him to maintain a well-funded army that Parliament could not be depended upon to provide. The office of Lord Protector was not formally hereditary, although Cromwell was able to nominate his own successor in his son,Richard.
Although England, Scotland and Ireland becameconstitutional monarchies, after the reigns ofCharles II and his brotherJames II and VII, and with the ascension ofWilliam III andMary II to the English, Irish and Scottish thrones as a result of theGlorious Revolution of 1688, there have been movements throughout the last few centuries whose aims were to remove the monarchy and establish a republican system. A notable period was the time in the late 18th century and early 19th century when manyRadicals such as the ministerJoseph Fawcett were openly republican.[14]
TheAmerican Revolution had a great impact on political thought in Ireland and Britain. According toChristopher Hitchens, the British–American author, philosopher, politician and activist,Thomas Paine was the "moral author of the American Revolution", who posited in the soon widely read pamphletCommon Sense (January 1776) that the conflict of theThirteen Colonies with theHanoverian monarchy in London was best resolved by setting up a separatedemocratic republic.[16] To him, republicanism was more important than independence. However, the circumstances forced the American revolutionaries to give up any hope of reconciliation with Britain, and reforming its 'corrupt' monarchial government, that so often dragged the American colonies in its European wars, from within.[15] He and other British republican writers saw in theDeclaration of Independence (4 July 1776) a legitimate struggle against the Crown, that violated people's freedom and rights, and denied themrepresentation in politics.[17]
When theFrench Revolution broke out in 1789, debates started in the British Isles on how to respond. Soon a pro-Revolutionary republican and anti-Revolutionary monarchist camp had established themselves among the intelligentsia, who waged a pamphlet war until 1795. Prominent figures of the republican camp wereMary Wollstonecraft,William Godwin and Paine.[18]
Paine would also play an important role inside the revolution in France as an elected member of theNational Convention (1792–1793), where he lobbied for an invasion of Britain to establish a republic after the example of the United States,France and itssister republics, but also opposed theexecution of Louis XVI, which got him arrested.[16] TheFirst French Republic would indeed stage anexpedition to Ireland in December 1796 to help theSociety of United Irishmen set up an Irish republic to destabilise the United Kingdom, but this ended in a failure. The subsequentIrish Rebellion of 1798 was suppressed by forces of theBritish Crown.Napoleon also planned an invasion of Britain since 1798 and more seriously since 1803, but in 1804 he relinquished republicanism bycrowning himself Emperor of the French and converting all Sister Republics into client kingdoms of theFrench Empire, before calling off the invasion of Britain altogether in 1805.[citation needed]
From the start of the French Revolution into the early 19th century, the revolutionaryblue-white-red tricolour was used throughout England, Wales and Ireland in defiance of the royal establishment. During the 1816Spa Fields riots, a green, white and red horizontal flag appeared for the first time, soon followed by a red, white and green horizontal version allegedly in use during the 1817Pentrich rising and the 1819Peterloo massacre. The latter is now associated withHungary, but then it became known as the British Republican Flag. It may have been inspired by the French revolutionary tricolour, but this is unclear. It was however often accompanied byslogans consisting of three words such as "Fraternity – Liberty – Humanity" (a clear reference toLiberté, égalité, fraternité), and adopted by theChartist movement in the 1830s.[19]
Besides these skirmishes in Great Britain itself, separatist republican revolutions against the British monarchy during the CanadianRebellions of 1837–1838 and theYoung Irelander Rebellion of 1848 failed.
Parliament passed theTreason Felony Act in 1848. This act made advocacy of republicanism punishable bytransportation to Australia, which was later amended to life imprisonment. The law is still on the statute books; however in a 2003 case, theLaw Lords stated that "It is plain as a pike staff to the respondents and everyone else that no one who advocates the peaceful abolition of the monarchy and its replacement by a republican form of government is at any risk of prosecution", for the reason that theHuman Rights Act 1998 would require the 1848 Act to be interpreted in such a way as to render such conduct non-criminal.[20]
During the later years ofQueen Victoria's reign, there was considerable criticism of her decision to withdraw from public life following the death of her husband,Prince Albert. This resulted in a "significant incarnation" of republicanism.[21] During the 1870s, calls for Britain to become a republic on the American or French model were made by the politiciansCharles Dilke[22] andCharles Bradlaugh, as well as journalistGeorge W. M. Reynolds.[21] This was also an era in which British republicans supportedIrish republicans and in which theIrish Home Rule movement had advocates in England and Scotland within the context ofloyal opposition. The British republican presence continued in debates and the Labour press, especially in the event of royal weddings, jubilees and births, until well into theInterwar period.[21]
Some prominent members of the nascentlabour movement, such asIndependent Labour Party leaderKeir Hardie (1856–1915), also held republican views.[23]
In 1923, at the annualLabour Party Conference, two motions were proposed, supported byErnest Thurtle andEmrys Hughes. The first was "that the Royal Family is no longer a necessary party of the British constitution", and the second was "that the hereditary principle in the British Constitution be abolished".[24]George Lansbury responded that, although he too was a republican, he regarded the issue of the monarchy as a "distraction" from more important issues. Lansbury added that he believed the "social revolution" would eventually remove the monarchy peacefully in the future. Both of the motions were overwhelmingly defeated.[24][25][26] Following this event, most of the Labour Party moved away from advocating republican views.[24]
Following theabdication of Edward VIII in 1936, MPJames Maxton proposed a "republican amendment" to the Abdication Bill, which would have established a Republic in Britain. Maxton argued that while the monarchy had benefited Britain in the past, it had now "outlived its usefulness". Five MPs voted to support the bill, includingAlfred Salter. However, the bill was defeated by 403 votes.[27][28] It was not until 1937 that the first British polling company was established, but questions about retaining the monarchy do not appear to have been asked by any such organisation until some years later.[29]
The monarchy's survival has been, and will be, ultimately dependent on the public's respect and belief that there is a value in its existence. In fact, the public seem to have consistently supported it, often greatly valued and cherished it, and the monarchy has not merely survived but flourished.
Yet until a very recent period, this has amounted to no more than a generally held belief: direct measurements of opinion have been rare. Britain has had no referendum on the monarchy, nor a general election in which it was an issue between the major parties; nor, until the 1990s, did it have even semi-regular opinion polls to test whether the people wished to retain the monarchy or would prefer a republic. The reason is perhaps understandable: the broad majority of support was so obvious that there was felt to be little value in measuring it. The opposing minority perhaps saw nothing to be gained by testing their strength. But the result is a frustrating paucity of solid evidence about what ordinary Britons thought about the institution and the royal family until a comparatively recent date.
As noted by Roger Mortimore, "the oldest continuing trend series on the straight-choice, monarchy-or-republic, question began only in 1993." He adds, "it seems not to have been until 1966 that any client took the plunge by commissioning a poll directly measuring support for the monarchy." According to Mortimore, this "was commissioned for aPanorama programme to markPrince Charles's eighteenth birthday, and the poll found that 'about a sixth of the British people think they would like to see the monarchy abolished'. ThreeGallup polls in the early and mid-1970s showed support for the status quo significantly higher than this, although they may have tilted the balance in the monarchy's favour by stating the alternative as 'a President, as they have in America and some European countries' at a period when the public standing of the American presidency in Britain cannot have been at its highest."[29]
Willie Hamilton, a republican Scottish Labour MP who served from 1950 to 1987, was known for his outspoken anti-royal views. He discussed these at length in his 1975 bookMy Queen and I.[30] However, all available evidence suggests that his view remained one shared by a small minority of Britons for most of his time in Parliament. InCrown and People (1978), royal historianPhilip Ziegler summarised public opinion on the monarchy in the quarter-century betweenElizabeth II's accession to the throne and herSilver Jubilee in 1977: "In the years after 1953 Britain entered the age of the psephologist. More and more often allegedly representative cross-sections of the British people found themselves interrogated about their views on abortion, religion, washing-machines, national politics or pornographic films." He notes that on thirteen occasions between 1953 and 1976, via varying questions, the public were asked whether they would prefer Britain to continue with a monarchical form of government or for the country to become a republic. Ziegler lists the proportions favouring a republic as 9% in 1953; 10% in 1956 (in aMass Observation Survey); 14% in 1958 (Mass Observation Survey); 10% in 1960 (Mass Observation Survey); 16% in 1964 (Mass Observation Survey); 10% in July 1969 (National Opinion Polls); 16% in October 1969 (NOP); 10% in October 1970; 19% in June 1971 (NOP); 12% in January 1972 (Gallup); 11% in May 1973 (Gallup); 8% in February 1976 (Gallup); 10% in May 1976 (Gallup). The television filmRoyal Family was first shown in 1969 and watched by a large audience, which may account for the increased interest in the period following its broadcast.[31]
Various questions have been asked by opinion polling companies: in the July 1969 survey by NOP, respondents were asked "In your opinion is the Monarchy a good thing or a bad thing for Britain?" 88% approved, with only 5% disapproving.[32] In October that year, the question NOP asked was "Do you think that Britain needs the Queen or not?" 84% answered "Yes", and 16% said "No". Over one in five of those aged 34 and under felt that Britain did not need the Queen (Elizabeth II).[33] The same question was asked by NOP in June 1971.[34] In May 1986, NOP stated that "Nine out of ten people think the monarchy should continue in Britain and only 7% believe it should be abolished."[35]
The pressure groupRepublic, which campaigns for a republic in the United Kingdom, was formed in 1983.[36] In 1991, Labour MPTony Benn introduced theCommonwealth of Britain Bill, which called for the transformation of the United Kingdom into a "democratic, federal and secular Commonwealth of Britain", with an elected president.[37] The monarchy would be abolished and replaced by a republic with a written constitution. It was read in Parliament a number of times until his retirement at the2001 election, but never achieved asecond reading.[38] Benn presented an account of his proposal inCommon Sense: A New Constitution for Britain.[39]
In January 1997,ITV broadcast a live television debateMonarchy: The Nation Decides, in which 2.5 million viewers voted on the question "Do you want a monarch?" by telephone. Speaking for the republican view were ProfessorStephen Haseler, (chairman of Republic),agony auntClaire Rayner,Paul Flynn, Labour MP forNewport West andAndrew Neil, then the former editor ofThe Sunday Times. Those in favour of the monarchy included authorFrederick Forsyth,Bernie Grant, Labour MP for Tottenham, andJeffrey Archer, former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Conservative MPSteven Norris was scheduled to appear in a discussion towards the end of the programme, but officials fromCarlton Television said he had left without explanation. The debate was conducted in front of an audience of 3,000 at theNational Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, with the telephone poll result being that 66% of voters wanted a monarch, and 34% did not.[40]
At the annualState Opening of Parliament, MPs are summoned to theHouse of Lords for theQueen's Speech. From the 1990s until the 2010s, republican MPDennis Skinner regularly made a retort toBlack Rod, the official who commands theHouse of Commons to attend the speech.[41] Skinner had previously remained in the Commons for the speech.[42]
Polling results suggest that a large majority of Britons were in favour of the monarchy during the 1990s and 2000s, with support mostly ranging from 70% to 74%, and never falling below 65%.
MORI polls in the opening years of the 21st century showed that over 70% of the public supported retaining the monarchy, but in 2005, at the time of thewedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, support for the monarchy dipped, with one poll showing that 65% of people would support keeping the monarchy if there were a referendum on the issue, and 22% saying they favoured a republic.[43] In a 2006 feature marking the Queen's 80th birthday,Time magazine quoted MORI founderRobert Worcester on this issue, who called it "the most stable measure in British polling".[44]
In 2009, anICM poll, commissioned by theBBC, found that 76% of those asked wanted the monarchy to continue after the reign of the Queen, while 18% of people said they would favour Britain becoming a republic, and 6% said they did not know.[45]
Support for the monarchy appeared to strengthen in the early to mid-2010s, when the Queen celebrated herDiamond Jubilee, and her grandson, who was second in line to the throne, got married in a ceremony broadcast on live television; both events were marked by publicbank holidays. Most polls during this period suggesting that between 75% and 80% (and all suggesting at least 69%) of the public were in favour of the monarchy. In February 2011, aYouGov poll put support for ending the monarchy after the Queen's death at 13%, if Prince Charles became king.[46]
However, an ICM poll shortly before thewedding ofPrince William andKate Middleton on 29 April 2011 suggested that 26% thought Britain would be better off without the monarchy, with only 37% "genuinely interested and excited" by the wedding.[47] The same month, an Ipsos MORI poll of 1,000 British adults found that 75% of the public would like Britain to remain a monarchy, with 18% in favour of Britain becoming a republic.[43]
In May 2012, in the lead up to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, an Ipsos MORI poll of 1,006 British adults found that 80% were in favour of the monarchy, with 13% in favour of the United Kingdom becoming a republic. This was thought to be a record-high figure in recent years in favour of the monarchy.[43]
Jeremy Corbyn, aLabour MP with republican views, wonhis party's leadership election in September 2015, thus becomingLeader of the Opposition andLeader of the Labour Party. In 1991, Corbyn had seconded theCommonwealth of Britain Bill.[37] However, Corbyn stated during his2015 campaign for the leadership that republicanism was "not a battle that I am fighting".[48][49]
At the swearing of oaths in the Commons following the2017 general election, Republic reported that several MPs had prefixed theirparliamentary oath of allegiance with broadly republican sentiments, such as a statement referring to their constituents, rather than the Queen. If an MP does not take the oath or the affirmation to the monarch, they will not be able to take part in parliamentary proceedings or paid any salary and allowances until they have done so. Such MPs includedRichard Burgon,Laura Pidcock,Dennis Skinner,Chris Williamson,Paul Flynn,Jeff Smith, andEmma Dent Coad.Roger Godsiff andAlex Sobel also expressed sympathy for an oath to their constituents.[50]
The level of support for the monarchy has declined in recent years. As of 2024[update], the last published poll in which over 70% favoured the monarchy was in 2019. The proportion favouring a republic has slightly increased at the same time, but has consistently remained a less popular position than maintaining the monarchy. Support for republicanism in Britain has ranged from 13% to 34% since the 1990s, with the figure generally remaining above 20% in the early 2020s. The monarchy is somewhat less popular amongBlack British groups,British Asians, and younger Britons (those under 35); these demographic groups are generally more in favour of a republic.
In May 2021, a YouGov poll showed reduced support for the monarchy, with 61% in favour and 24% against among all over-18s; there was a particularly high rise in republican views and an overall plurality for its replacement with an elected head of state in the 18–24 age group (41%–31%).[51] The poll also suggested significant reductions in support for the monarchy in 25–49-year olds, and a slight fall in support among over 65s.
In May 2022, ahead of the Queen'sPlatinum Jubilee, another YouGov poll showed that only 31% of 18–24-year olds were in favour of the monarchy, compared to 66% of the population as a whole.[52] Four months later, in the wake ofthe Queen's death, this figure stood firm at 67%.[53] However, it has not reached this level since then, and twoSavanta polls sinceKing Charles III succeeded his mother have shown support for a republic at over 30%. Aside from a 2022Byline Times poll (which did not include "Don't know" as an option), these are the first opinion poll results to give figures of over 30% in favour of a republic.[54][55]
In April 2023, YouGov polling found that less than one third of 18 to 24-year-olds were in favour of the monarchy, compared to 78% of over-65s.[56][57] The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic reported a doubling of its membership since theCoronation of King Charles III that May, whilst its income had substantially increased. Commenting in November that year, chief executiveGraham Smith said, "In 2020, our income was £106,000. It was £172,000 the next year; last year it was £286,000. On the death of the queen, we had £70,000 in donations that month. This year, income is hitting £560,000."[58]
In a January 2024 poll conducted bySavanta, support for the monarchy stood at 48%, when respondents were asked "What would you prefer for the UK, a monarchy or an elected head of state?". This was the first time the figure preferring a monarchy had been below 50% since published opinion polling on the topic had begun.[59]
Protests against King Charles III have includedblank pieces of paper, heckling during royal processions involvingPrince Andrew, andegging attempts.[60][61][62][63]
A major protest was planned by Republic for the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023. However, on the day of the event, Republic CEOGraham Smith and five others were arrested by police. They were held for over 15 hours, before being released.[64][65]
TheMetropolitan Police later expressed "regret" over these arrests, and confirmed that no further action would be taken.[66] This was in spite of Republic having been in discussion with the police about the protests for months beforehand.[67]
Human Rights Watch UK director Yasmine Ahmed said, "This is something you would expect to see inMoscow, not London." Hundreds of protesters assembled in central London that day; it was also reported that 300 people had gathered inCardiff to protest.[68]
A subsequent ceremony inEdinburgh marking the coronation was targeted by republican protesters, led byPatrick Harvie, the co-leader ofScottish Greens and aScottish Government minister.[69] Chants of "not my king" could be heard inside the venue for the event, which took place in July 2023.[70]
In September 2023, republican activists staged what was called the "first-ever" protest insideBuckingham Palace. In a photo released by Republic, protestors wore T-shirts spelling out "Not My King." In a statement, Republic said "The protest is the latest in a series of actions aimed at pushing forward the debate about the future of the monarchy". They said that six of the activists had been briefly detained by security, before being escorted out of the front gate.[71]
TheState Opening of Parliament in November 2023, the first by a king in over 70 years, was also met with protests by republicans, who booed King Charles as he arrived. It was later reported that Charles had waved to them from his carriage.[72][73]
A number of prominent individuals in the United Kingdom advocate republicanism.
As of 2024[update], theGreen Party of England and Wales, with four MPs in Parliament since 2024, has an official policy of republicanism.[74] TheScottish Greens, with eight MSPs in the 2021–2026Scottish Parliament, support having an elected head of state in anindependent Scotland.[75] The Irish republican partySinn Féin has seven MPs, but theydo not take their UK parliamentary seats as a rejection of UK authority in Northern Ireland.[76]
TheLabour Party, theConservative Party, and theLiberal Democrats do not have an official policy of republicanism. TheScottish National Party, which supportsScottish independence, also does not have an official policy of republicanism, and instead favours making a decision on the head of state of an independent Scotland only after independence is attained in itself.
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Labour for a Republic is a republicanpressure group of Labour Party members and supporters,[77] founded by Labour activistKen Ritchie in May 2011. It held its first meeting in 2012.[78][79] It has since held meetings, other informal meetings, and appeared in the media on a few occasions. As of September 2022, its chairman is Nick Wall.[80] The organisation held an event at the Labour Party's annual conference on 25 September 2022, which attracted large crowds, and includedThe Guardian's columnistPolly Toynbee, author Paul Richards, and expert in constitutional law Dr Adam Tucker as panellists.[80]
In response to the Labour Party's decision to sing "God Save the King" at the conference, panellists and those who attended the event said they did not want to see it booed or heckled. It was reported that the singing was not disrupted, and that the minute of silence for the recent death of Elizabeth II was observed without failure.[80] In 2023, the Labour Party added pro-republic campaign groupRepublic to a list of organisations which local party branches were no longer able to affiliate with.[81]
It is rare for a high-profile British politician to identify with republicanism, even among those who campaigned for a republic earlier in their careers. Former UK prime ministerLiz Truss was an advocate of republicanism prior to becoming a Conservative MP.[82] Labour Party leader SirKeir Starmer was, at an earlier time in his career, also on record as a republican, but no longer identifies as one.[83] His predecessor as Labour leader,Jeremy Corbyn, although an avowed republican, also stressed that his personal support for republicanism would not influence his policy agenda.[84] The formerFirst Minister of Scotland andleader of the Scottish National Party from March 2023 to May 2024,Humza Yousaf, is a republican.[85]
The largest[citation needed] lobby group in favour of republicanism in the United Kingdom is theRepublic campaign group, founded in 1983. The group has benefited from occasional negative publicity about the Royal Family, and Republic reported a large rise in membership following the wedding of then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Republic has lobbied on changes to the parliamentary oath of allegiance, royal finances and changes to theFreedom of Information Act relating to the monarchy, none of which have produced any change. However, Republic has been invited to Parliament to talk as witnesses on certain issues related to the monarchy, such as conduct of thehonours system in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
In 2009, Republic made news[86] by reporting Prince Charles's architecture charity to theCharity Commission, claiming that the Prince was effectively using the organisation as a private lobbying firm (the Commission declined to take the matter further). Republic has previously broken stories about royals using the Freedom of Information Act.[citation needed]
Newspapers and magazines such asThe Guardian,The Observer,The Economist andThe Independent have all advocated the abolition of the monarchy.[87][88] In the wake of the2009 MPs' expenses scandal, a poll of readers ofThe Guardian andThe Observer placed support for abolition of the monarchy at 54%, although only 3% saw it as a top priority.[89] The online magazineSpiked also supports republicanism.[90]
The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has collected survey data on public attitudes towards the UK's Monarchy since 1983, when theBritish Social Attitudes Survey first asked about this, with the question "How important or unimportant do you think it is for Britain to continue to have a monarchy: very important, quite important, not very important, not at all important, or, do you think the monarchy should be abolished?" Results for the latter answer between 1983 and 2012 ranged from 3% to 11%.[29]
Since then, the results suggest a long-term decline in support for the institution, with 2023 survey data showing the number of people who said the monarchy was "very important" falling to 29%, an all-time low. 26% said it was "quite important", making a combined total of 55% believing it was important.[91] This total stood at 54% in the data released a year later, in April 2024. Gillian Prior, deputy chief executive at the National Centre for Social Research, said: "NatCen has been collecting data on the public's attitudes towards the monarchy for over 40 years, and it is clear we are observing a downward trend in support for the monarchy."[92]
The chart below shows opinion polls conducted about whether the United Kingdom should become a republic. The trend lines arelocal regressions (LOESS).
The following table includes all known published polls in which the general public in the UK or Great Britain are asked for their preference on the future of the monarchy. Generally, the question revolves around whether they support the continuation of the monarchy or its abolition (regardless of a republic being specified). The question has been framed in different ways: some polling companies have asked whether respondents prefer a monarchy or an elected head of state.
| Dates conducted | Pollster | Client | Sample size | Monarchy | Republic | Undecided[a] | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14–15 Aug 2024 | YouGov | N/A | 2,021 | 65% | 25% | 10% | 40% |
| 26–29 Apr 2024 | Ipsos | The Mail on Sunday | 2,166 | 60% | 28% | 8% | 32% |
| 1–4 Mar 2024 | Savanta | Republic | 2,256 | 53% | 33%[b] | 13% | 20% |
| 15–16 Jan 2024 | YouGov | Republic | 2,089 | 45% | 31%[b] | 24% | 14% |
| 5–8 Jan 2024 | Savanta | Republic | 2,281 | 48% | 32%[b] | 20% | 16% |
| 24–26 Nov 2023 | Savanta | Republic | 2,283 | 60% | 29% | 12% | 31% |
| 52% | 34%[b] | 13% | 18% | ||||
| 6–12 Sep 2023 | Ipsos | N/A | 1,006 | 66% | 25% | 9% | 41% |
| 26–28 Aug 2023 | YouGov | N/A | 2,020 | 62% | 26% | 11% | 36% |
| 10–16 May 2023 | Ipsos | N/A | 1,006 | 62% | 28% | 10% | 34% |
| 10–12 May 2023 | Opinium | The Observer | 2,050 | 60% | 25% | 15% | 35% |
| 6–8 May 2023 | Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla andbank holiday weekend | ||||||
| 3–4 May 2023 | BMG | i (British newspaper) | 1,534 | 52% | 23% | 25% | 29% |
| 28 Apr – 2 May 2023 | Savanta | Republic | 2,274 | 57% | 30%[b] | 13% | 27% |
| 28–30 Apr 2023 | Savanta | Yahoo! News | 2,274 | 57% | 29% | 14% | 28% |
| 26–27 Apr 2023 | YouGov | The Times | 2,111 | 60% | 26% | 15% | 34% |
| 25–26 Apr 2023 | YouGov | N/A | 2,030 | 62% | 25% | 12% | 37% |
| 24–25 Apr 2023 | Find Out Now | Electoral Calculus | 2,211 | 54% | 20% | 26% | 34% |
| 21–23 Apr 2023 | Savanta | ITV News | 2,181 | 53% | 19% | 28% | 34% |
| 14–17 Apr 2023 | YouGov | Panorama (BBC) | 4,592 | 58% | 26% | 16% | 32% |
| 22–29 Mar 2023 | Ipsos | N/A | 1,004 | 65% | 25% | 10% | 40% |
| 6 Feb – 23 Mar 2023 | Lord Ashcroft Polls | N/A | 10,294[c] | 56% | 23% | 22% | 33% |
| 18–20 Mar 2023 | YouGov | N/A | 1,983 | 61% | 24% | 15% | 37% |
| 25 Jan – 15 Feb 2023 | Find Out Now / Electoral Calculus | Property Chronicle | 1,030 | 55%[d] | 23% | 22% | 32% |
| 18–25 Jan 2023 | Ipsos | N/A | 1,001 | 64% | 22% | 13% | 42% |
| 12–16 Jan 2023 | Deltapoll | N/A | 1,059 | 63% | 23% | 14% | 40% |
| 10–11 Jan 2023 | YouGov | N/A | 1,691 | 64% | 23% | 13% | 41% |
| 5–6 Jan 2023 | Savanta | Sunday Express | 2,124 | 55% | 33% | 13% | 22% |
| 14–15 Dec 2022 | YouGov | Republic | 1,690 | 60% | 25% | 15% | 35% |
| 9–11 Dec 2022 | Savanta | N/A | 2,250 | 55% | 31% | 14% | 24% |
| 21–22 Sep 2022 | JL Partners | The Sun on Sunday | 2,010 | 66% | 25% | 9% | 41% |
| 13–14 Sep 2022 | YouGov | N/A | 1,710 | 67% | 20% | 13% | 47% |
| 13 Sep 2022 | People Polling | GB News | 1,245 | 63% | 19% | 19% | 44% |
| 11–12 Sep 2022 | YouGov | The Times | 1,727 | 64% | 21% | 15% | 43% |
| 8 Sep 2022 | Charles III accedes to the throne following thedeath of his mother[93] | ||||||
| 14–15 Jun 2022 | YouGov | Republic | 1,678 | 61% | 24% | 15% | 37% |
| 2–5 Jun 2022 | Bank holiday weekend celebrating thePlatinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II | ||||||
| 30–31 May 2022 | Omnisis | Byline Times | 1,026 | 66% | 34% | – | 32% |
| 27–29 May 2022 | Savanta ComRes | N/A | 2,177 | 57% | 29% | 14% | 28% |
| 27 May 2022 | Ipsos | N/A | 1,013 | 68% | 22% | 10% | 46% |
| 16–17 May 2022 | YouGov | N/A | 1,669 | 62% | 22% | 16% | 40% |
| 30 Apr – 2 May 2022 | YouGov | N/A | 1,754 | 60% | 27% | 13% | 33% |
| 29–30 Mar 2022 | YouGov | N/A | ? | 59% | 24% | 17% | 35% |
| 28 Feb – 7 Mar 2022 | Focaldata | British Future | 2,006 | 58% | 25% | 17% | 33% |
| 16–17 Feb 2022 | YouGov | N/A | ? | 61% | 24% | 15% | 37% |
| 19–24 Nov 2021 | Ipsos MORI | N/A | 1,005 | 60% | 21% | 19% | 39% |
| 29 Jul 2021 | Redfield & Wilton Strategies | New Statesman | 1,500 | 53% | 18% | 23% | 35% |
| 6–7 May 2021 | YouGov | N/A | ? | 62% | 23% | 15% | 39% |
| 21–22 Apr 2021 | YouGov | The Times | 1,730 | 63% | 20% | 16% | 43% |
| 9 Apr 2021 | Death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | ||||||
| 19–30 Mar 2021 | Find Out Now | Electoral Calculus | 2,500 | 56% | 20% | 24% | 36% |
| 15–16 Mar 2021 | YouGov | – | ? | 61% | 24% | 15% | 37% |
| 12–15 Mar 2021 | YouGov | – | ? | 61% | 25% | 14% | 36% |
| 11–12 Mar 2021 | Opinium | The Observer | 2,001 | 55% | 29% | 17% | 26% |
| 11–12 Mar 2021 | YouGov | – | ? | 62% | 22% | 15% | 40% |
| 9–10 Mar 2021 | Survation | Sunday Mirror | 958 | 55% | 29% | 16% | 26% |
| 9 Mar 2021 | JL Partners | Daily Mail | 1,056 | 50% | 29% | 21% | 21% |
| 8–9 Mar 2021 | YouGov | N/A | 1,672 | 63% | 25% | 12% | 38% |
| 8 Mar 2021 | UK broadcast of television interview programmeOprah with Meghan and Harry | ||||||
| 2–4 Oct 2020 | YouGov | N/A | 1,626 | 67% | 21% | 12% | 46% |
| 5–6 Mar 2020 | YouGov | – | ? | 63% | 23% | 14% | 40% |
| 18 Feb 2020 | YouGov | N/A | 3,142 | 62% | 22% | 16% | 40% |
| 9–11 Jan 2020 | Deltapoll | The Mail on Sunday | 1,055 | 59% | 20% | 21% | 39% |
| 21–22 Nov 2019 | YouGov | The Sunday Times | 1,677 | 63% | 19% | 17% | 44% |
| 19–20 Nov 2019 | YouGov | – | ? | 63% | 22% | 15% | 41% |
| 2–3 Oct 2019 | YouGov | – | ? | 70% | 18% | 13% | 52% |
| 24–25 Apr 2019 | YouGov | – | ? | 64% | 21% | 15% | 43% |
| 19 May 2018 | Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | ||||||
| 8–9 May 2018 | YouGov | – | ? | 66% | 18% | 16% | 48% |
| 13–16 Feb 2016 | Ipsos MORI | King's College London | 1,000 | 76% | 17% | 7% | 59% |
| 3–4 Sep 2015 | YouGov | N/A | 1,579 | 71% | 18% | 11% | 53% |
| 8–9 Apr 2015 | ComRes | Daily Mail | 2,020 | 70% | 19% | 11% | 51% |
| 25–26 Jul 2013 | YouGov | N/A | ? | 75% | 17% | 8% | 58% |
| 13–15 Jul 2013 | Ipsos MORI | N/A | 1,000 | 77% | 17% | 6% | 60% |
| 10–13 Nov 2012 | Ipsos MORI | King's College London | 1,014 | 79% | 16% | 5% | 63% |
| 9–11 Jun 2012 | Ipsos MORI | N/A | 1,016 | 77% | 15% | 8% | 62% |
| 7–8 Jun 2012 | YouGov | The Sunday Times | 1,667 | 75% | 15% | 10% | 60% |
| 2–5 Jun 2012 | Bank holiday weekend commemorating theDiamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II | ||||||
| 31 May – 1 Jun 2012 | YouGov | N/A | ? | 73% | 18% | 9% | 55% |
| 27–28 May 2012 | YouGov | N/A | 1,743 | 73% | 16% | 11% | 57% |
| 25–28 May 2012 | Populus | N/A | 2,056 | 82% | 18% | – | 64% |
| 17–18 May 2012 | Survation | Daily Star Sunday | 1,003 | 71% | 21% | 8% | 50% |
| 12–14 May 2012 | Ipsos MORI | Evening Standard | 1,006 | 80% | 13% | 6% | 67% |
| 15–17 May 2011 | MORI | Reuters | 1,000 | 75% | 18% | 7% | 57% |
| 29 Apr 2011 | Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton | ||||||
| 26–27 Apr 2011 | YouGov | Cambridge University | ? | 69% | 20% | 11% | 49% |
| 15–17 Apr 2011 | Ipsos MORI | Reuters | 1,000 | 75% | 18% | 7% | 57% |
| 1–3 Apr 2011 | Populus | N/A | 1,002 | 77% | 23% | – | 54% |
| 20–23 Aug 2010 | Populus | N/A | 1,037 | 77% | 23% | – | 54% |
| 6–8 Feb 2009 | ICM Research | Politics Show (BBC) | 1,017 | 69% | 24% | 8% | 45% |
| 14–16 Dec 2007 | Populus | Discovery Channel[94] | 1,004 | 76% | 16% | 8% | 60% |
| 20–22 Apr 2006 | Ipsos MORI | The Sun | 1,006 | 72% | 18% | 10% | 54% |
| 7–9 Apr 2005 | MORI | The Observer/Sunday Mirror | 1,004 | 65% | 22% | 13% | 43% |
| 7–11 Jan 2005 | Populus | The Sun | 1,503 | 82% | 18% | – | 64% |
| 83% | 17%[e] | – | 66% | ||||
| 23–25 Apr 2004 | MORI | N/A | c. 1000[f] | 71% | 20% | 10% | 51% |
| 1–4 Jun 2002 | Golden Jubilee Weekend to mark theGolden Jubilee of Elizabeth II | ||||||
| 24–26 May 2002 | MORI | Tonight with Trevor McDonald | 1,002[f] | 74% | 19% | 7% | 55% |
| 1–3 Feb 2002 | MORI | N/A | ?[f] | 71% | 19% | 10% | 52% |
| 14–16 Dec 2001 | MORI | N/A | 1,000[f] | 70% | 21% | 9% | 49% |
| 10–12 Apr 2001 | MORI | Daily Mail | 1,003 | 70% | 19% | 11% | 51% |
| 5–6 Apr 2001 | MORI | The Mail on Sunday | 814 | 71% | 20% | 9% | 51% |
| 29 Dec 2000 | MORI | The Mail on Sunday | 504 | 73% | 15% | 12% | 58% |
| 13–15 Dec 2000 | MORI | News of the World | 621 | 72% | 21% | 7% | 51% |
| 8–9 Jun 2000 | MORI | Sunday Telegraph | 621 | 70% | 19% | 11% | 51% |
| Jun 2000 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 87% | 11% | 3% | 76% |
| 8–10 Nov 1999 | MORI | Daily Mail | 1,019 | 74% | 16% | 10% | 58% |
| 15–16 Jun 1999 | MORI | The Sun | 806 | 74% | 16% | 10% | 58% |
| 5–6 Nov 1998 | MORI | Daily Mail/GMTV | 1,019 | 73% | 18% | 9% | 55% |
| Nov 1998 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 87% | 12% | 0% | 75% |
| 23–24 Oct 1998 | MORI | The Sun | 600 | 74% | 16% | 10% | 58% |
| 18–20 Aug 1998 | MORI | The Mail on Sunday | 804 | 75% | 16% | 9% | 59% |
| 17–18 Aug 1998 | ICM Research[usurped] | N/A | 500 | 74% | 17% | 9% | 57% |
| 5–8 Mar 1998 | MORI | The Sun | 1,000 | 74% | 19% | 7% | 55% |
| 6–7 Sep 1997 | MORI | The Sun | 602 | 73% | 18% | 9% | 55% |
| Sep 1997 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 87% | 11% | 2% | 76% |
| 31 Aug 1997 | Death of Diana, Princess of Wales | ||||||
| Nov 1996 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 81% | 16% | 3% | 65% |
| Mar 1996 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 79% | 17% | 4% | 62% |
| Nov 1995 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 80% | 15% | 5% | 65% |
| Oct 1995 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 82% | 13% | 6% | 69% |
| 28–29 Dec 1994 | MORI | ? | ? | 73% | 17% | 10% | 56% |
| Sep 1994 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 85% | 12% | 3% | 73% |
| 7–12 Jan 1994 | MORI | ? | ? | 71% | 20% | 10% | 51% |
| Nov 1993 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 86% | 10% | 4% | 76% |
| Jun 1993 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 85% | 11% | 4% | 74% |
| 22–26 Apr 1993 | MORI[96] | The Sunday Age (Australia) | 1,029 | 69% | 18% | 14% | 51% |
| 28 Jan – 2 Feb 1993 | Gallup[95][97][98] | The Daily Telegraph | 989 | 89%[g] | 9% | 2% | 80% |
| 11 Dec 1992 | Gallup | The Sunday Telegraph | 620 | 59% | 24% | 17% | 35% |
| Dec 1992 | Gallup[g][95] | ? | ? | 85% | 13% | 2% | 72% |
| Age group | 18–24 | 25–34 | 35–44 | 45–54 | 55–64 | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elected Head of State | 46% | 44% | 38% | 29% | 31% | 18% |
| Monarchy | 31% | 38% | 45% | 58% | 58% | 77% |
| Don't know | 22% | 19% | 17% | 12% | 11% | 4% |
 | This articlemay beunbalanced toward certain viewpoints. Pleaseimprove the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on thetalk page.(December 2023) |
The public debate around republicanism has centred around the core republican argument that a republic is more democratic and compatible with the notion ofpopular sovereignty. Theadvocacy groupRepublic argues that:
The monarchy is an unaccountable, expensive and outdated institution, it is unrepresentative of modern Britain, and it also gives politicians significant unchecked powers. It does this is in a variety of ways:
- Royal prerogative: Royal powers that allow the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister to declare war or deploy the armed forces without Parliamentary scrutiny.[Note 1][100]
- ThePrivy Council: A body of advisors to the monarch, now mostly made up of senior politicians.[Note 2][101]
- TheCrown-in-Parliament: The principle essentially states that the Monarch's sovereignty is exercised through Parliament, giving rise to the concept ofParliamentary Sovereignty, in effect meaning that Parliament has near limitless power.[Note 3][102][better source needed]
The primarily anti-republican defence is that there is nothing in a republic that is inherently more democratic compared to a constitutional monarchy, as both forms of government are based onparliamentarianism andconstitutionalism, and that traditional institutions have confirmed the citizens as sovereign beings.[clarification needed] It has been previously thought, mainly during theVictorian period that the UK is already essentially a republic, and the phrase 'crowned republic' has been used to refer it accordingly.[103]
It is further argued that monarchy contradicts democracy insofar it deniesthe people a basic right: Republicans believe that it should be a fundamental right of the people of any nation to elect their head of state and for every citizen to be eligible to hold that office. It is argued such a head of state is more accountable to the people, and that such accountability to the people creates a better nation.[104][105]
Further, republicans argue that members of the royal family bolster their position with unearned symbols of achievement. Examples in the UK includeElizabeth II's honorary military positions as colonel-in-chief, irrespective of her military experience. There is debate over the roles which the members of the monarchy have played in the military; many doubt that members of the Royal Family have served on the front line on the same basis as other members of the Armed Forces. Examples here include Prince Andrew, whose presence during theFalklands War was later criticised by the commander of the British Naval Force who stated that "special measures" had to be taken to ensure that the prince did not lose his life.[107] It is seen to some as more of a PR exercise than military service.[108]
The Labour leader, known for his republican beliefs...
His Majesty King Charles III immediately succeeded to the Throne upon the death of his mother, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the afternoon of Thursday 8 September.
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