Exclusive: Standard poll reveals 60 per cent want Duke of Sussex to be at father’s ceremony in May
majority of Britons say Prince Harry should be invited to the King’s Coronation, a new poll revealed on Friday.
The Ipsos survey for The Standard found 60 per cent of adults believe the Duke of Sussex should be offered a place at the ceremony.
But after the controversies sparked by his Spare autobiography, Netflix series and other recent TV interviews, 30 per cent believe he should not be invited.
The crowning and anointment of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6, will be part of a weekend of celebrations which includes a procession from Buckingham Palace, a balcony appearance and a concert at Windsor Castle.
The service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” Buckingham Palace has said.
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The events will be watched by tens of millions of people around the world and will aim to show Britain at its best, with the Royal Family centre stage.
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix – Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix – Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix – Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix – Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix – Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes.
Netflix
Personal images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released for a new documentary called “Harry and Meghan” – the Sussexes’ behind the scenes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s controversial documentary has aired on Netflix. The first three episodes of the six-part Harry & Meghan series began streaming
Netflix
But the furore over Harry and Meghan’s departure to California and the prince’s subsequent public criticisms of other royals lingers on.
The poll found a striking age gap on whether he should be at the coronation.
Three quarters of 18 to 34-year-olds say the Prince should be invited, with 15 per cent against.
However, among the 55+ age group the split is 47 per cent “yes” and 42 per cent “no”.
For the 35 to 54 age group, the divide is 65 per cent supporting Harry to get an invite, with 26 per cent taking the opposite view.
The survey comes amid claims that several senior royals do not want Harry and Meghan at the coronation. They are said to be concerned that private conversations could be made public by them and exploited at a later date.
The coronation has also prompted a diplomatic headache because there will be a fraction of the 8,000 guests who came to the Queen’s ceremony in 1953. The Government will have to decide which VIPs will not be invited.
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Prince Charles Prince Of Wales 60th Birthday Portrait
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King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace
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Prince Charles (centre) wearing a crown and robes after a ceremony where he was invested as the Prince of Wales, with Queen Elizabeth II (left) and the Duke of Edinburgh (right) at Caernarvon Castle, Wales, July 2nd 1969.
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The Queen holds the hands of her 20-year-old son Prince Charles during his investiture as Prince of Wales
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The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with the Prince of Wales during his investiture at Caernarfon Castle
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The Queen presents her son, the Prince of Wales at the King’s Gate at Caernarfon Castle after his investiture
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Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in the grounds of Buckingham Palace after announcing their engagement.
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Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day at Buckingham Palace.
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The Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during their wedding blessing at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel in 2005
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Prince Charles on his wedding day to Duchess of Cornwall in 2005
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Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall meet members of the public outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor after the blessing of their civil marriage
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration held at Buckingham Palace
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Britain’s Prince William, Prince Charles, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Kate Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice at the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall walk down the steps of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle following the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration held at Buckingham Palace
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) arrive to attend the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during day one of Royal Ascot
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Prince Charles Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards (C) during a presentation of campaign medals to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards following their return from Afghanistan, at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp, at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp in Woking
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during a visit to Lambeth Palace to present the Cranmer Awards at the Prayer Book Society’s thirtieth annual contest in London
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israe
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales uses the Namaste gesture to greet television presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as he attends the Prince’s Trust
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The survey also showed that Harry’s standing in Britain has taken a hit, compared with earlier years after his allegations about the royal family.
They include claims that William physically attacked him in his London cottage, that both brothers pleaded with Charles not to marry Camilla and that the Queen “quietly sat there” amid family rows. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have declined to respond to the allegations.
However, the survey showed that William is now by far the most popular royal, ahead of his father Charles, his wife Kate and then Harry.
When people were asked which two or three royals they liked the most, 50 per cent named William, 32 per cent Charles, and 29 per cent Kate. Just 17 per cent mentioned Harry, with William, who is now Prince of Wales, three times as popular.
Princess Anne was on 16 per cent, Meghan, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, all on four per cent and Queen Camilla on three per cent. The figures contrast with findings in January 2018 when Harry was level-pegging with William on popularity.
Sixty-two per cent named William as a favourite royal, 58 per cent Harry, 47 per cent the late Queen, 21 per cent Kate, 12 per cent the Duke of Edinburgh and nine per cent Prince Charles.
These figures may have been swayed by the poll being carried out just a few months before Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May that year.
Gideon Skinner, of Ipsos UK, said: “Despite not being as popular as he once was, most Britons still think Harry should be invited to the coronation in May, which suggests some hope for reconciliation.”
Despite the controversies and the Queen’s death last September, support for the monarchy seems little changed over the last year or two but is markedly lower than in 2016 and most other times that this question was asked going back to 1993.
Sixty-four per cent now say they favour Britain remaining a monarchy, with 22 per cent saying it should become a republic, with 13 per cent “don’t knows”.
Ipsos interviewed 1,001 adults across Britain by phone between January 18-25. Data are weighted.
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