SCOTLAND’S government and councils look set to give Prince Andrew’s birthday a miss this year, with none of them saying yes to The National’s queries about flying a special flag.
Edinburgh Castle, too, will be keeping its powder dry, with no plans for a gun salute or a special banner.
The Duke of York, who celebrates his 60th birthday on February 19, stood down from royal duties last November following controversy over his friendship with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He is also alleged to have slept with Virginia Giuffre – a woman who claims she was trafficked by Epstein when she was a teenager. The duke denies all claims against him.
There was anger earlier this week when it was reported that councils in England had been reminded to fly the Union flag for the Duke’s 60th birthday.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew told to 'do the right thing' in Epstein probe
The Department for Culture Media and Sport later U-turned, saying this was not necessary given the royal’s resignation from public life.
The Scottish Government’s flag guidance is to fly the Royal Banner over their St Andrew’s House headquarters on a royal birthday.
However, when asked if they would be flying it later this month for the birthday of the Queen’s second son, a spokeswoman said, “no”. Of the 32 local authorities in Scotland, 17 replied to The National.
All of those who responded said they would not be doing anything different.
“There are no plans to fly the Union flag or any other flag at council HQ on February 19,” a spokesperson for Angus Council said.
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire, Moray and Perth and Kinross said they flew the Union Flag and the Saltire on a daily basis.
“We don’t currently fly a flag to mark the Duke of York’s birthday and have no plans to fly it this year or in any future years,” a spokesman for Inverclyde said.
A West Lothian Council spokesman said: “No special arrangements are in place for February 19, 2020, so our usual flag flying arrangements will apply.
The Ministry of Defence, which is responsible for flag flying and military salutes at Edinburgh Castle said it would only mark the birthday of the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles.
Westminster Abbey is, however, set to mark Andrew’s big day by ringing its bells.
A spokesperson for the church has said there are no plans to change the arrangements for Andrew’s birthday.
The abbey is where Andrew married his former wife Sarah Ferguson, now Sarah, Duchess of York, in 1986 and where the Queen was married and crowned.
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