King Charles III warned that Commonwealth nations could make ‘a rush for the door’ after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Professor Phillip Murphy, a former director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies has said countries could attempt to become republics following the death of the former monarch.
Mr Murphy’s comments comes after the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda declared that he would be continuing with plans of a referendum on whether to become a republic.
Mr Murphy said: “A movement had already started before she died."
King Charles III
Jonathan Brady
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed her Government will not be pursuing their own referendum
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He added that the movement is being fuelled by “a combination of things like the Black Lives Matter movement, the Windrush scandal and the growing momentum behind the move for reparations for slavery and colonialism”.
Despite suggestions that more countries could attempt to become republic, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed her Government will not be pursuing their own referendum.
She said: “There’s been a debate, probably for a number of years.
“It’s just the pace, and how widely that debate is occurring. I’ve made my view plain many times.
“I do believe that is where New Zealand will head, in time. I believe it is likely to occur in my lifetime.
“But I don’t see it as a short-term measure or anything that is on the agenda any time soon.”
She added: “As I say, in large part actually because I’ve never sensed the urgency.
“There are so many challenges we face. This is a large, significant debate. I don’t think it’s one that would or should occur quickly.”