Confidence in British monarchy at all-time high, poll shows The survey also highlights the rising popularity of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, particularly among the young. They, along with Prince Harry, are the three most popular members of the Royal family behind the Queen. Support for the monarchy is the same level as the record set in opinion polls last summer when Britain was celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the hosting of the Olympics. More than half (53 per cent) of those questioned today think that Britain would be worse off without the Royal family while only 14 per cent believe we would be better off without them. The poll suggests that republicans doubt that the abolition of the monarchy will happen this century. Prince George's reign - which would follow those of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge - is unlikely to begin for another half century and could last into the 22nd century. However, just under 10 per cent of those questioned think that the prince, who was born last Monday, will never become king because the country will have become a republic by then. The figure suggests that the future of a monarchy built on popular support has been ensured and shows a far lower level of expectation that there could be a republic than previous polls. A poll in 2011 found that a quarter of people expected a republic to emerge within 50 years," while 35 per cent thought it would come into being within 100 years. The poll also shows how the changing face of the monarchy has seen its younger members embraced by those of a similar age. While the Queen is the most admired member of the Royal family overall, among those aged between 18 and 24, the Duchess of Cambridge emerges as the single most popular figure. As well as being favoured by young adults, both she and the Duke of Cambridge are markedly more admired by women than by men, according to the survey. Prince Harry, emerges from the poll as Britain's third-favourite member of the Royal family, suggesting that his service in Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter gunner has endeared him to the public. Party antics including games of "strip billiards" in Las Vegas have either failed to dent his popularity - or possibly increased it. However, when it comes to the key question of who should succeed the Queen, the public is split. Some 42 per cent say that the Prince of Wales should inherit the throne while 38 per cent believe that it should skip a generation and pass to the Duke of Cambridge instead. Some 14 per cent believe that neither should inherit the throne - and that Britain should become a republic at this stage by electing its head of state. Again, there is a clear difference along gender and age lines, with women and younger people much more likely to favour the Duke of Cambridge taking over rather than his father. There is, currently, no sign whatsoever that the crown will pass to anyone other than the Prince of Wales when the Queen dies. Such an arrangement would have no recent constitutional precedent. The events of the past few years - which have seen the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the birth of Prince George - have ensured that overall support for the monarchy remains high. The Royal family received similar public support in the Eighties - but in the following decade saw its popularity fall after a series of separations, including the divorce of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. The Royal family regained some of its popularity amid a wave of public sympathy following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. There were further boosts provided by the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and following the Prince of Wales's marriage to the then Camilla Parker-Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2005. The only area in which there is not majority opinion in favour of the current settlement is on the cost of the Royal family. The public is divided over whether it offers value for money during the current tough economic times. Under a new settlement brought in by the current government, the monarchy is no longer paid for out of the Exchequer. Instead a proportion of the profits from the Crown Estate, the land and property owned by the Queen in her official capacity, is given to Buckingham Palace as the Sovereign Grant. The poll found 43 per cent of people believe the £36.1million annual Sovereign Grant - which funds many official royal duties, pays staff and maintains palaces - represents good value for money while 40 per cent disagree. More than half the 18-24 age group (56 per cent) disagrees that the Royal family is worth the cost, the highest figure in any age group. By contrast almost six in 10 of those (59 per cent) aged 65 and above agrees that it is value for money.