ALP voters drive the increase in support for the Monarchy over the last decade

A special Roy Morgan SMS Poll last week revealed support for the Monarchy amongst Australians has grown over the last decade with 60% (up 5% points since November 2012) now saying Australia should remain a Monarchy while only 40% (down 5% points) say Australia should become a Republic with an elected President.

A look at these results by voting intention reveals what may be a surprise to some – it is those who vote for the ALP who have driven this increase in support for the Monarchy from a decade ago.

Now a clear majority of ALP voters, 58% - up a stunning 18% points since November 2012, say that Australia should remain as a Monarchy – a far larger change than by either L-NP voters or Greens voters who appear far more set in their ways.

L-NP voters are staunch supporters of the Monarchy with over two-thirds, 68%, saying Australia should remain as a Monarchy, although this is down slightly, by 3% points, on November 2012.

At the other end of the spectrum it is Greens supporters who are clearly in support of a Republic with only a third, 34%, saying that Australia should remain as a Monarchy, up 4% points in a decade.

Supporters of Independents and Other Parties – an increasingly large share of the electorate, are also moving more firmly in favour of the Monarchy. Now nearly three-quarters of these voters (72%) say Australia should remain as a Monarchy, an increase of 15% points on November 2012.

Support for the Monarchy by Voting Intention (November 2012 vs. September 2022)

Source: Roy Morgan SMS Snap Poll, Monday September 12, 2022. Base: n = 1,012 Australians aged 18+.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, says:

“A special Roy Morgan SMS Poll conducted last week showed a growing majority of Australians, 60%, up 5% points since November 2012, say Australia should remain a Monarchy while only 40% (down 5% points) say Australia should become a Republic with an elected President.

“Interestingly, looking underneath these headline results shows that it is ALP voters that have been the biggest driver of this increase. Now a clear majority of ALP voters (58%) say Australia should remain a Monarchy, a stunning increase of 18% points since November 2012. During the same time period L-NP Coalition voters are barely changed, but still over two-thirds, 68%, say Australia should remain as a Monarchy.

“During the past 15 years the popularity of the Royal Family has strengthened as the Queen celebrated a Diamond Jubilee in 2012 (60^th Anniversary of accession to the throne) and an unprecedented Platinum Jubilee earlier this year (70^th Anniversary of accession to the throne).

“The many troubles and scandals of the 1990s have receded further into the distance as this year marks the 30-year anniversary of the year the Queen dubbed her ‘Annus horribilis’ – 1992, and the heavy criticism the Royal Family received surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, which was just over 25 years ago in 1997.

“During the past decade the growing prominence of younger Royals such as the new heir to the throne, Prince William, and his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, as well as Prince Harry, and his American-born wife Meghan Markle, appear to have brought the Royals new fans amongst a younger audience.

“Although there has been plenty of drama surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, that has at times proved frustrating for supporters of the Royal Family, it has not dented the popularity of the Monarchy in Australia as shown by the results of this special Roy Morgan SMS Poll.

“During the past decade the heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, have started a family and now have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The birth of George, Charlotte and Louis means Prince Harry is now only fifth in the line of succession and not as central to the Royal Family moving forward as he once was.”

This special Roy Morgan SMS Poll was conducted by SMS on Monday September 12, 2022, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,012 Australians. The survey was conducted entirely after Prince Charles took the oath to become King Charles III.

Australians were asked: “In your opinion, should Australia remain a MONARCHY– or become a REPUBLICwith an elected President?”

To purchase full demographic breakdowns by Gender, Age, City/Country including Voting Intention and detailed quantitative and qualitative verbatim responses to the open-ended questions relating to how Australians view the Monarchy or a potential Republic for $9,800 contact Morgan Poll Manager Julian McCrann. By Email: julian.mccrann@roymorgan.com. By Phone: 9224 5365.

For further comment or more information contact:
Michele Levine 0411 129 093 or Gary Morgan 0411 129 094 or email: askroymorgan@roymorgan.com.