With Prince Andrew’s birthday approaching, councils across the U.K. have been forced to reconsider its flag-flying policy.
Though flying the Union Jack is normally customary for royal birthdays, the prince is currently mired in heavycontroversy due to his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, leading the U.K. government to discuss whether or not the policy should still be honored for the prince.
Prince Andrew at Royal Ascot.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty
A spokesperson for the government confirms to PEOPLE that discussions are taking place.
In reference to the email, the source adds, “This was an administrative email about a long standing policy. We are working with the Royal Household to consider how flag flying policy can be applied in changing circumstances, such as when a member of the Royal Family steps back from public duties.”
A U.K. government source points out that any decision on flag flying on designated days is for each individual local authority to decide is not mandatory.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein.Ian Forsyth/Getty Images; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan
Mayor Joe Anderson of Liverpool told theLiverpool Echothat his city council will not be flying the flag in honor of the prince’s birthday, claiming it wouldn’t be “appropriate.”
“This isn’t to do with being anti-royal, we have flown the flag for the Queen before,” Mayor Anderson said to the publication. “But Prince Andrew isn’t a major royal, he’s not a significant member of the Royal Family.”
He added, “When you look at his behavior — it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to mark his birthday.”
In November, Prince Andrew decided tostep back from royal dutiesfollowing the backlash of hisbombshell BBC interviewsurrounding his relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein. Consequently, his official royal role collapsed to almost nothing in a matter of days. He was removed from his hundreds of charitable patronages and his office was forced out of Buckingham Palace.
BBC
Prince Andrew’s BBC interview.BBC/Mark Harrison
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Queen Elizabeth, 93, and her eldest son and heir,Prince Charles, 71,have recently held talks, including an “emergency meeting” at her Sandringham estate, to discuss Prince Andrew’s connections with Epstein, reportsThe Sun.
“Both had hoped the Duke of York could perhaps be rehabilitated back into public life in time but that is now looking increasingly unlikely,” a source told the publication.
source: people.com
