Is the monarchy facing its gravest crisis in decades? The monarchy survived “bad” kings such as John, Edward II, and Richard II, and “mad” monarchs such as Henry VI and George III. Incompetence, tyranny, civil war, and regicide — none of it has proved fatal to the monarchy. Polling suggests that support for the monarchy, though lower than in the mid-20th century, remains at 64 per cent, comfortably ahead of support for its abolition. Public scrutiny of taxpayer-subsidised royal finances is both legitimate and necessary.

Source: The Times February 27, 2026 12:33 UTC