Source: The Mercury, 27 March, 2001, p.XX

Royals on the nose in poll

 

 
BRITONS have told the Queen the 
royal family is irrelevant and 
poor value in a devastating report 
compiled for her by pollsters 
MORI. 
 
   It suggested fewer than one in 
four people thought the royals 
were hard-working and only one 
in 10 thought them good value. 
 
   More than half of those 
questioned thought they were 
"good for Britain's image abroad" 
but just under half thought they 
were "important to Britain", 
almost a quarter believed them 
"remote" and a mere 9 per cent 
said they were "relevant". 
 
   The poll was commissioned to 
assist planning for the Queen's 
Golden Jubilee celebrations 
next year, which is seen by 
advisers as the perfect 
opportunity for her to "connect" 
with the people - particularly the 
young. 
 
   The findings will be a blow for 
the royals, who believed they 
had been successfully rebuilding 
their image, helped by highly 
paid advisers, since the death of 
Princess Diana. 
 
   The Queen is said to have  
received the supposedly secret 
report in stony silence. 
 
   There was some encouragement,  
though: those who have analysed 
the survey told the Queen the 
"Prince William effect" had 
helped promote the royals' 
image and only 10 per cent of 15- 
21-year-olds -- re- 
garded as the key age group 
by advisers -- said the royals 
were "remote" and 72 per cent of 
that age group said they were "in 
touch" with Britain. 
 
   It is only the second time 
such a survey has been 
commissioned and the findings 
make it plain the country 
believes the royal family should 
be doing more. 
 
   MORI polled 2092 people aged 
15 and over in England, Wales 
and Scotland last month. 
 
   The Prince of Wales was the 
only family member singled out 
in specific questions, almost 
half of those polled praising, in 
particular, his support for 
charities and for speaking out. 
 
   The desire for the 
monarchy to be abolished is 
strongest in Scotland, Wales 
and London especially 
among men aged 35-44. 
Predictably, support for the 
royals was strongest - 87 per 
cent- from men and women aged 
over 65. 
 
Daily Mail

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