KING CHARLES – THE VERDICT Monarch defies his critics with strong public backing.

The death of the King’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, left some fearing that faith in the Monarchy might waver. 

But an authoritative new poll for the Mail’s new Royals site suggests that not only does Charles have the public’s backing as King, but that a quarter of his subjects say their opinion of him has actually improved since he ascended the throne.

The survey, which comes only two weeks before the Coronation, shows that Britons are even prepared to support King Charles in his wish to continue speaking out on topics of personal interest.

In stark contrast to Queen Elizabeth, Charles had been willing to court controversy while he was Prince of Wales, airing views on such issues as the environment, farming, health, education and architecture.

And despite demands by some that he be silenced, he had vowed to continue engaging in public debate even after becoming monarch – while respecting the traditions and duties involved in the role.

But today, 57 per cent of us believe Charles should continue to speak out on issues that matter to him. While by no means an overwhelming majority, it is more support than might have been expected.

More than a quarter of participants said their opinion of King Charles has improved since he ascended the throne

Opinion was more divided over Queen Camilla and only 14 per cent thought she should be given the title of Queen

Other findings from our exclusive Deltapoll survey include: 

• William and Kate are judged better role models for the nation than Harry and Meghan, with 71 per cent favouring the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and only 14 per cent choosing the Sussexes

• Prince Andrew’s reputation has sunk so low that 79 per cent would remove him from the line of succession to the throne

•  Sixty four per cent would remove Prince Harry from the line of succession

• Fifty one per cent of the public say that Britain will still have a monarchy in 50 years time 

As Prince of Wales, Charles had to endure a record wait of more than 70 years to succeed his mother, enduring considerable scrutiny and some criticism, in that time. In recent weeks he has also endured street protests from a small but vocal minority. 

Yet it is clear from today’s poll that public support is both strong and enduring – even if there appears to be concern about the cost of the monarchy.

There is backing, too, for the way Charles has carried out his role as father – in circumstances widely acknowledged to have been difficult, not least following the death of his former wife, Diana, in 1997.

Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, Spare, released earlier this year, painted Charles as a somewhat ineffectual father unable to hug the 12-year-old Prince when telling him of his mother’s death in a car crash.

Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, Spare painted Charles as a somewhat ineffectual father who was unable to hug the 12-year-old Prince when telling him of his mother’s death in a car crash

The Duke of Sussex also wrote that when he confided in Charles about suffering panic attacks as a grown man, his father had looked at his plate sadly and said he had failed him.

Even so, 43 per cent, more than four in ten, say that Charles has done a good job of being father to William and Harry (although 32 per cent disagreed).

Fifty per cent of Britons believe it was right for him to inherit the throne after the death of the Queen – as opposed to 35 per cent choosing Prince William – with a consistent 52 per cent of the public supporting the monarchy itself.

There was support, too, for Charles’s plans to slim down the monarchy, especially when it comes to who should receive public money in the form of the Sovereign Grant.

Opinion was more divided over Queen Camilla, however.

Only 14 per cent thought she should be given the title of Queen, with more than third preferring her to have remained.

Nearly a quarter – 23 percent – thought she should have no title at all.

Other findings from the poll include clear support Charles and Camilla receiving public money, with 59 per cent in favour and only 32 per cent against.

Opinion was more divided on whether or not Harry and Meghan’s children should be known as Prince and Princess, with 44 per cent backing Charles’s decision to allow it and 33 per cent disagreeing. 

Half the respondents told the pollsters they would watch the Coronation on TV with 36 per cent saying they would not, although these figures are thought likely to change closer to May 6, with a substantial majority of Britons eventually deciding to put the television on.

• The new findings are from a Deltapoll survey of 1,569 British adults between 24 and 27 March with statistics weighted to represent the population as a whole