Support in Britain for the royal family has slumped below 50 per cent for the first time, according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. A growing minority apparently believes Britain would be better off without the monarchy.
The poll also shows that in time solid support for the royal family will literally "die out" with the over 65s, the only age group to show a clear majority who believe Britain would be worse off without them.
The spectacular fall in popular support for the royal family - down from 70 per cent three years ago - reveals the damage that has been inflicted on the monarchy's reputation by repeated revelations, culminating in speculation about the new relationship between Princess Diana and Mr Dodi al-Fayed. But the poll also shows that, despite the open warfare between Charles and Diana on the world public relations stage, support has grown over the past year for the prince to become king if he marries Ms Camilla Parker-Bowles. There is however continuing strong hostility to Charles naming Camilla as queen.
The main finding shows much greater uncertainty and scepticism now among the British public about whether Britain would be better or worse off without the monarchy than three years ago, when ICM last asked the question.
Another poll, carried out by MORI for the Sun newspaper, however, showed that three out of four respondents believed Princess Diana's holiday with Mr al-Fayed had had no effect on the royal family's image.
Only 21 per cent thought the public display of affection evidenced in photographs carried in the British press over the weekend was bad for the royals. Nearly half of those polled thought that Prince Charles and Ms Camilla Parker-Bowles should be completely open about their relationship.
The poll was released as the former English rugby captain Will Carling said in a radio interview that the newspapers had "massively exaggerated" his relationship with Princess Diana two years ago.
Mr Carling described Princess Diana as being a "good friend" and expressed sympathy about the way she was treated by the tabloids.