Queen Elizabeth II has been revealed as Britain’s most popular monarch since 1066, according to a new YouGov survey.
The late Queen, who ruled from 1952 to 2022, received an overwhelming 82% approval rating from the British public.
Only 8% of respondents expressed an unfavourable view of Elizabeth II in the comprehensive poll, which examined public attitudes towards 43 rulers of England and Britain spanning nearly a millennium.
Queen Victoria emerged as the second most popular monarch in British history, with 62% of Britons holding a favourable opinion.
The current King Charles III holds a more complex position in the rankings, with 57% of Britons viewing him favourably.
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Only 12% expressed negative views towards the Victorian-era ruler, whose reign was so significant it defined an entire age.
George VI secured third place when considering net favourability scores, achieving +39 with 48% positive views compared to just 9% negative.
The current King Charles III holds a more complex position in the rankings, with 57% of Britons viewing him favourably.
However, his relatively high negative rating of 30% impacts his overall standing in the survey.
Queen Elizabeth II has been revealed as Britain’s most popular monarch since 1066, according to a new YouGov survey.
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When accounting for both positive and negative views through net favourability scores, Charles III ranks seventh overall with a score of +27.
This calculation subtracts the percentage of negative opinions from positive ones to provide a more complete picture of public sentiment.
The survey revealed that most British monarchs remain largely unknown to the public.
For 32 out of the 43 rulers polled, a majority of Britons either hadn’t heard of them or didn’t know enough to form an opinion.
When accounting for both positive and negative views through net favourability scores, Charles III ranks seventh overall with a score of +27.
PA
The data showed a distinct pattern regarding recognition of historical monarchs.
Those listed with name and number, such as Henry II, were generally recognised as monarchs, while those listed by name alone – like Stephen of Blois – were more likely to be completely unknown to respondents.
The YouGov survey was conducted between January 16-17 2025, polling 10,505 adults across Great Britain.
The extensive study examined public attitudes towards every ruler since the Norman Conquest, including both monarchs and the Cromwell period.
