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Canadians became more enamoured with the monarchy in 2012

Canadians are warming up to the monarchy.

According to a new Forum Research poll conducted on behalf of the National Post, only 36 per cent of Canadians are in favour of cutting ties with Buckingham Palace upon the death of Queen Elizabeth. That number is down 7 points from January.

"It is remarkable what a royal tummy-bump can do to public attitudes," Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff told the National Post, suggesting that the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy helped boost the pro-monarch numbers.

"It’s the fairy tale: prince marries a commoner romance. It’s all out of central casting."

What's also interesting in the Forum poll is what's happening in traditionally anti-Royal Quebec — in January, 67 per cent of Quebecers were in favour of cutting ties; today that number sits at just 58 per cent.

[ Related: Queen's Christmas message urges helping others ]

Earlier this year, Yahoo! Canada News spoke with Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, who said enthusiasm for the monarchy in "la belle province" has been growing since Will and Kate visited Canada in 2011.

"While support for the monarchy is lower in Quebec compared to the rest of Canada, it's actually on the rise. Witness last year's huge, enthusiastic crowds in Quebec City to greet Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. It's been decades since we saw that type of reception for a member of the Royal Family in Quebec," Finch said.

"It's also worth noting that almost 50 per cent of [the Monarchist League's] new members in the aftermath of the Royal Tour were francophone Quebecers. I believe the monarchy actually has a bright future in Quebec."

The Will and Kate visit in 2011 certainly buoyed the royal love-in; in 2012 the monarchs were helped by the fact that they were in the news a lot.

[ Year in Review: 12 events we didn't see coming in 2012 ]

It has been an eventful year for the Royals as chronicled by Christina Blizzard of the QMI Agency.

"The Queen's 60th anniversary year turned out to be one of royal triumphs, topless titillation and some very Naughty Harry," she wrote referencing the topless princess scandal and Prince Harry's Vegas vacation.

"Finally, the year of celebration turned tragic in the last month, when a nurse in a London hospital answered a prank call from two Australian radio hosts trying to talk to the Duchess."

As they say, 'there's no such thing as bad publicity.'

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