Councils can stand down over flag flying
● Authorities will not have to observe Duke of York’s birthday but bells will
Councils will be told by the UK government they are no longer required to fly flags to mark the Duke of York’s 60th birthday after he stepped back from public duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
But the bells of Westminster Abbey were still expected to ring out in celebration of Andrew’s milestone birthday on 19 February.
The policy of flying Union flags on royal birthdays was being re-examined after councils were initially ordered to do so for Andrew, as is the custom.
Downing Street said the matter was being looked into after critics branded the celebration “crass and offensive”.
A government spokesman said: “The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be advising councils that there is no requirement to fly flags on 19 February following the decision by the Duke of York to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future.”
Certain royal birthdays, including the duke’s, are traditionally marked by the ringing of bells at the Abbey.
A spokeswoman for the landmark London church said: “Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar and the bells are rung for the birthdays of HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh; their children; and TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.
“There are no plans to change these arrangements.”
Critics had called for the order to be scrapped because of allegations that Andrew slept with Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “This was an administrative email about long-standing policy. “I understand DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and the Royal Household are considering how the policy applies in changing circumstances such as when members of the royal family step back from their duties.”
Andrew stepped down from public life in November after the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight interview.
He was accused of showing a lack of empathy for Epstein’s victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
Ms Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, says she and the duke slept together three times, including when she was 17 – still a minor under US law.
Andrew strenuously denies the allegations.
Republic chief executive Graham Smith said: “This is crass and offensive and even at the best of times it’s nonsense to be flying flags for Andrew’s or anyone else’s birthday.”