According to reports in the Guardian, the UK government has changed its policy on flying flags on royal birthdays.
Local authorities no longer need to raise the Union Flag for Prince Andrew.
The prince withdrew from his royal duties after a disastrous television interview defending his friendship with deceased US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After the Sun received a leaked email reminding local authorities to fly the British flag for Andrew’s 60th birthday on 19 February 2020, No. 10 stepped in.
A spokesman for PM Boris Johnson said officials were considering how the policy applied ‘in changing circumstances, such as when members of the royal family step back from their duties’.
The original message was simply an ‘administrative email about long-standing policy’, and discussions about a change are under way between the government and the royal household.
Wes Streeting MP (Labour, Ilford North) argued that government buildings flying flags in honour of Prince Andrew ‘would be wholly inappropriate’.
The government later confirmed that councils had ‘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’.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/07/prince-andrew-birthday-royal-flag-councils
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/08/bit-mean-not-give-prince-andrew-flag-fly-birthday/
