DEEP social divisions have emerged over who should be the next king, as revealed by the first test of public opinion on the Royal Family since the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles.

Support for the Prince succeeding to the throne has slumped among manual workers to 24 per cent in a Populus poll for The Times. Among white-collar workers, 46 per cent want the throne to go to Prince William.

Even among the professional classes, only 42 per cent wanted the Prince to succeed the Queen, with 29 per cent preferring William.

The marriage of the Prince to Mrs Parker Bowles has done nothing to enhance the popularity of the royals. In February, after the nuptials were announced, people were asked if they approved, disapproved or did not care either way about the union. Some 32 per cent “did not care”. Today that figure has soared to 62 per cent, which will cause concern at Clarence House.

The figure will cause surprise at Buckingham Palace. Normally there is a rise in popularity after a royal wedding.

In 1981, after the marriage of the Prince to Lady Diana Spencer, a similar poll showed that 94 per cent believed that the marriage would increase the popularity of the monarchy.

Today’s Populus poll shows huge hostility to the Prince among women, who were more sympathetic to Diana, Princess of Wales, and adopted a harder line over his adultery with Camilla, now the Duchess of Cornwall. Only 26 per cent of women wanted the Prince to be the next king, compared with 48 per cent for William.

The number of people who believe that the monarchy should end with the Queen stands at 18 per cent, which will also raise anxiety within the Royal Family. Among men the figure was 22 per cent.

Only 25 per cent of Labour voters want the Prince as their monarch compared with 41 per cent who want William as their next head of state. The Prince of Wales has a lead only among Conservative voters at 46 per cent, compared with 41 per cent for William.

Among Liberal Democrat supporters 38 per cent want a King Charles III compared with 42 per cent wanting him to be replaced by William.

Populus interviewed a random sample of 716 adults by telephone between April 24 and April 25.

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