Guernsey Press

Kate becomes UK’s favourite royal after cancer diagnosis, poll shows

The princess jumped ahead of her husband the Prince of Wales, with 76% of those quizzed having a positive view of Kate.

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The Princess of Wales has become the UK’s most popular royal in the wake of her cancer diagnosis.

Kate jumped ahead of her husband the Prince of Wales, with 76% of Britons quizzed saying they had a positive view of the future Queen.

Her popularity rating has risen six percentage points since the start of the year during which time she delivered a video message to the nation announcing her chemotherapy treatment.

Princess of Wales cancer announcement
The Princess of Wales recorded her message announcing that following her abdominal surgery in January, tests showed cancer had been present (BBC Studios/PA)

Around a fifth of people (21%) had a negative view of the prince, compared with 15% for the princess.

The King’s sister the Princess Royal was next with a 71% positive rating, with Anne having the smallest negative rating at 13%.

Royal visit to Cardiff
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Fitzalan High School in Cardiff last October (Chris Jackson/PA)

The King has a 63% positive rating and 30% negative, and is followed by his brother the Duke of Edinburgh with 54% positive, and the Queen, who has moved up two percentage points since January, with 50% having a favourable view of Camilla.

Less than a third have a positive opinion of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with 31% for Harry and 26% for Meghan.

The Braemar Gathering highland games
The Princess Royal, the King and the Queen during the Braemar Gathering in September (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Some 6% have a positive view of Andrew compared with 86% a negative one.

The princess has stepped back from public life while she undergoes treatment for an undisclosed cancer, which was discovered in post-operative tests following her major abdominal surgery in January.

Royal visit to Shrewsbury
The Queen receives a message of support for the Princess of Wales (Chris Jackson/PA)

Get well messages flooded in from around the world, and William and Kate were said to be “enormously touched” and “extremely moved” by the public’s warmth and support.

YouGov questioned 2,004 adults between April 2-3.

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