King Charles’s ascension ignites debate over royals across Commonwealth

Head of state role in doubt in realms from Jamaica to New Zealand after death of Queen Elizabeth II

• Britain mourns death of Queen Elizabeth - latest updates

King Charles's ascension to the throne has reignited a debate over whether the royal family deserves a global role in the 21st century, no more so than in the 14 Commonwealth realms where the British monarch remains the head of state.

A legacy of empire and slavery that was entwined with British royalty for centuries has raised tough questions about the place of a foreign king, and republican movements from the Pacific to North America to the Caribbean will be assessing whether they should seize the moment.