No f lags for Andrew’s birthday, say ministers

... but bells at Westminster Abbey WILL be ringing out

THE Union Flag will not fly for scandal-hit Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday, ministers said yesterday.

There will also be no official celebration, although the bells of Westminster Abbey will ring to mark the occasion on February 19.

There are also no plans to hold a public reception for the prince and his charities at Buckingham Palace, which would normally be the case. Any celebration will simply involve Andrew and his immediate family and be ‘lowkey’, it is understood.

A row broke out after an email was sent from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to local authorities reminding them to fly the Union Flag for Andrew’s birthday.

Yesterday, ministers confirmed that no government building or town hall would be required to hoist the flag to mark the occasion. A government spokesman said: ‘[The department] will be advising councils that there is no requirement to fly flags on February 19 following the decision by the Duke of York to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future.’

The decision also applies to government buildings.

Prince Andrew withdrew from royal work last year after a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He has faced claims – which he denies – that he had sex with teenager Virginia Roberts, who says she was trafficked by Epstein.

The ministers’ decision directly applies to Prince Andrew’s birthday, but it is believed to apply to all royals who step back from public duties.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s birthday is still marked because he has retired from royal duties.

Andrew had originally hoped that his 60th birthday would be a national celebration, a source close to him said. A spokesman for Westminster Abbey said: ‘Westminster

Abbey is a Royal Peculiar and the bells are rung for the birthdays of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, their children, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.

‘There are no plans to change these arrangements.’

The Union Flag traditionally flies on the birthday of ten members of the Royal Family – the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and their children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall and Sophie Wessex.

■ Prince Andrew’s daughter Beatrice will marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on May 29, it was claimed yesterday, with her father walking her down the aisle. It is believed the Queen has given her granddaughter permission to host her reception at Buckingham Palace.

Royal officials refused to comment on the claims, although sources said a formal announcement will be made ‘within days’.