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.
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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.
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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.