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The Pollara Strategic Insights survey found Charles’ popularity has jumped since he ascended the throne in 2022 upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years.

More Canadians now support the country remaining a constitutional monarchy than becoming a republic with 45 per cent backing the status quo and 39 per cent wanting to abandon the Crown while 16 per cent were unsure.

That compares to a September 2022 Pollara survey that found 35 per cent wanted Canada to remain a constitutional monarchy with the King as its head of state while 44 per cent opposed that and 21 per cent of respondents weren’t sure.

“At a time when we’re looking for stability, there’s something stable that the institution offers and that’s the biggest reason we see that growth in support,” Dan Arnold, Pollara’s chief strategy officer, said Friday.

“In the face of Trump and chaos and everything else, there’s a certain degree of stability that the institution and the King himself offer,” said Arnold.

Indeed, that’s a major reason why Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Charles to deliver the throne speech that will outline the new Liberal government’s legislative agenda.

Such speeches are normally delivered by the governor general — the last time a reigning monarch did so in Canada was in 1977 with Queen Elizabeth.

Pollara found the new prime minister’s move has been well-received with 48 per cent of respondents saying the King reading the speech is “good for Canadian sovereignty” while only 22 per cent felt it was bad and 30 per cent didn’t know.

“Certainly Carney is trying to position this as a counter to Trump annexation talk,” said Arnold, referring to the president’s comments that Canada should become the “51st state.”

“This (the monarchy) is obviously one of the connections Canada has in the world outside the U.S.,” the pollster said.

The King’s personal popularity is also on the upswing since the earlier poll — 45 per cent have a positive view toward him compared to 23 per cent with a negative view and 32 per cent unsure.

In 2022, 37 per cent had a favourable view with 33 per cent viewing him unfavourably and 26 per cent having no opinion.

Overall, his rating has climbed to plus 22 per cent from plus four per cent.

“That probably speaks to him putting some of the doubts to rest,” said Arnold.

“He certainly took over the role of monarch at a time when people were very down on him, given everything that happened with (his late ex-wife Princess) Diana and other controversies,” he said.

Arnold said the King’s very public fight with cancer, which has increased awareness of the need for people to get screened for the disease, has also left an impression on Canadians. 

“He’s managed to put some of the questions around him to rest for the people who were negative towards him.”

But not all Canadians want the country to remain a constitutional monarchy with a sovereign who lives in the United Kingdom.

Only 25 per cent of Quebecers support the Crown while 58 per cent want to end the monarchy.

“That’s the only area where this is potentially dicey for Carney. Other than Quebec, there’s not really any demographic or part of the country where there’s opposition to this,” said Arnold.

In Ontario, 54 per cent back the monarchy with 32 per cent opposed. Similarly in Atlantic Canada, it was 54 per cent in favour and 31 per cent against.

That compared to 52 per cent in favour in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with 32 per cent opposed.

Alberta, home to a smouldering secessionist movement, was 46 per cent in favour with 37 per cent opposed while British Columbia was 43 per cent in favour and 37 per cent against.