Channel 4 documentary on future of the Royal Family claims one in four Brits now want to abolish the monarchy

One in four Britons now support abolishing the monarchy – with scandals surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor having a major impact on its popularity, a poll claims.

Some 28 per cent of UK adults are now in favour of bringing 1,200 years of monarchy in the country to an end, a figure rising to 38 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds.

Meanwhile 41 per cent say Andrew has made them less supportive of the Royal Family - with 49 per cent believing Buckingham Palace moved too slowly when claims emerged about his involvement with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Separately, 64 per cent believe King Charles III should be required to pay the same income tax as everyone else, according to the wide-ranging survey for Channel 4.

The poll is part of a new documentary called 'The Royals: Time to Go?' hosted by veteran broadcaster and lifelong republican John Humphrys tomorrow at 9pm.

The former BBC presenter recalls encounters with the royals, including how the late Queen Elizabeth II told him she would 'most certainly' never give him an interview.

Humphrys said Elizabeth had invited him to lunch and they were alone in an anteroom afterwards, where he asked whether she had ever considered giving an interview.

The Queen listened politely before telling him: 'No, and what's more Mr Humphrys, if one ever were to do such a thing, it most certainly would not be with you.'

Camilla, Charles, William, Kate, Charlotte, George and Louis at Buckingham Palace in June 

Humphrys traces his republicanism back to his childhood in working-class Cardiff, remembering the excitement when newly-crowned Elizabeth visited in 1952.

He says his neighbours poured onto the street to see her – apart from his father Edward, whom Humphrys remembers as a 'very proud man who had a very tough life'.

He adds: 'He swore that he would never bow his head to any man or woman. He was a republican and he stayed a republican and I became a republican too.'

Humphrys, now 83, explores whether the monarch can be justified in a modern democracy, and how much deference towards the monarchy exists in Britain today.

While 28 per cent of people support abolishing the monarchy, the Survation poll of more than 2,000 people from across the UK also found 44 per cent oppose this.

The survey further revealed that 57 per cent of people believe the King should have to pay inheritance tax, while 49 per cent say he should be required to publish full details of his private earnings.

Humphrys examines the Sovereign Grant, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the monarchy's tax arrangements, questioning whether the UK public is getting value for money and whether there should be greater financial scrutiny of the royals.

John Humphrys (left) and other broadcasters meet Queen Elizabeth II at a reception in 2006

He also asks whether working royals should be subject to greater accountability, with the poll finding 48 per cent of people support a formal code of conduct for working members of the Royal Family.

While there are 11 working royals, only 46 per cent of people in the survey could name more than two of them.

They are: the King and Queen Camilla; Prince William and Catherine; Princess Anne; Prince Edward and Sophie; Prince Richard and Birgitte, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; Prince Edward, Duke of Kent; and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.

Among those backing the case for the monarchy is former chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt, who says the institution provides stability and a head of state who can 'unite us in a period where politics is incredibly polarised', adding: 'I think they're worth their weight in gold.'

Meanwhile former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claims some of the monarchy's popularity was attributable specifically to the late Queen rather than the institution itself.

She also questions whether it is fair for future generations of the Royal Family to have their lives determined for them from birth.

Humphrys concludes: 'In a country proud of its openness and willingness to debate pretty much anything, we should feel we can ask hard questions of one of our oldest institutions and expect more answers.

John Humphrys interviews Princess Anne on BBC Radio 4's Today programme in 1995

'I suspect that's what my father would have wanted too. Hope he's listening.'

Virginia Giuffre, who died last year, had accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager after being trafficked by Epstein. 

Andrew has strongly denied this but in 2022 reached an out-of-court settlement with her, despite claiming never to have met her.

The King last year stripped his brother of his royal titles after fresh revelations about his Epstein ties and Andrew was forced to leave his Windsor mansion and move to the monarch's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The scandal also saw Peter Mandelson fired as UK ambassador to the US.

Both were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with Epstein. They were subsequently released under investigation and deny any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace provided a statement to Channel 4 relating to Andrew, saying: 'Since there is an ongoing police enquiry into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, it is not possible to provide comment.

'We would point you to His Majesty's unprecedented actions taken on this matter since accession, and the unequivocal words in which the King pledged his "wholehearted support" for the "full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities".'