A recent national survey conducted by researchers from King’s College London suggests that primary school children in the UK have a more favorable view of the

British monarchy compared to young adults.

In conjunction with the Coronation of King Charles III in May of last year, the researchers surveyed UK schoolchildren aged 6-12 to gauge their sentiments toward the royal family. The analysis of responses from 1,996 children revealed that nearly two-thirds (64.7%) expressed feelings of pride, excitement, or happiness about having a monarchy in the UK.

This contrasts sharply with the sentiments of 18-24 year-olds surveyed by YouGov, where only 30% of this age group viewed the monarchy as beneficial for Britain.

Lead researcher Dr. George Gross, Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London, highlighted the importance of understanding children's perspectives on the monarchy, noting that such insights challenge the notion of widespread disapproval among younger demographics.

The survey encompassed pupils from various educational settings, including state, private, and faith schools. Interestingly, privately educated pupils were the least likely to express positive sentiments (55.7%) about the monarchy compared to those in state schools (65.9%) and faith schools (68%).

Additionally, respondents were asked to consider their feelings about the tradition of crowning the new king. Across all sectors, the Coronation event elicited more positive responses than the monarchy itself, with 70.4% expressing pride, excitement, or happiness at the thought of crowning the new monarch.

Dr. Gross suggested that exposure to the Coronation events and historical significance surrounding the crowning of monarchs may contribute to children's more positive perceptions. He also noted the possibility that children's excitement about the Coronation events positively influenced their views on the monarchy.

The decision to survey children aged 6-12 was based on the significance of these formative years, during which children undergo crucial educational assessments in English and Mathematics.

The school survey was part of King’s College London’s British Coronations Project, a comprehensive study exploring the history of British Coronations. The project aimed to provide teachers and children with resources to celebrate and explore the traditions of British Coronations, including a curriculum-based scheme of work available for download.

Further analysis of the survey data is underway to examine broader questions and regional variations. However, the researchers argue that these initial findings underscore the nuanced nature of public sentiment toward the monarchy.