British Queen's popularity at its highest: Survey

The public support for British Queen — who celebrates 60 years on the throne this year — is at a record high, a survey has revealed.

The poll for the ‘Sunday Express' has found a groundswell of affection for the Royal Family after the weddings of two of the 85-year-old Monarch's grandchildren, her historic visit to Ireland and 90-year-old Prince Philip's hospital admission.

The survey showed the fairytale wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey last April has gripped the nation and paved the way for the British Queen to enjoy a wonderful year.

The Queen branded 1992 her horrible year, after the marriage break-ups of Prince Charles and Diana, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the divorce of Princess Anne, and a fire that destroyed part of Windsor Castle.

But, the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year was a resounding success and bookmakers have been taking bets on 29-year-old Kate becoming pregnant in 2012.

The marriage of Zara Phillips to former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, Zara's older brother Peter Phillips producing the Queen's first great-grandchild Savannah in April and first official visit of a British monarch to Ireland for 100 years in May saw her popularity at its highest in decades.

Eighty per cent of the people polled felt the Queen was good for Britain's image overseas, while only seven per cent disagreed with this. And, 87 per cent of the over-55s said the Queen was good for Britain's image, compared with 71 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds, according to the survey.

An overwhelming 83 per cent of the thousands of respondents said Kate's marriage to Prince William had been good for the Royal Family while only three per cent felt it was not.

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