Liverpool Council will not fly Union flag to mark Prince Andrew's birthday

January 27th 2020 - In a statement today, Geoffrey Berman the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Prince Andrew has provided "zero cooperation" to United States law enforcement agents and investigators who wish to interview him regarding his association with the late millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. - November 21st 2019 - Prince Andrew The Duke of York steps down from all official royal public duties amid the escalation of his associations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. - File Photo by: zz/KGC-492/STAR MAX/IPx 2018 8/12/18 Prince Andrew The Duke of York attends the Sunday Church Service at Crathie Kirk - the regular place of worship of the British Royal Family when they are on holiday at Balmoral Castle. (Crathie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK)
Prince Andrew's birthday will reportedly not be marked by Liverpool Council (AP)

The Union flag will not be flown by Liverpool Council to mark the upcoming 60th birthday of Prince Andrew.

Councils across the country have been told to raise the flag on town hall buildings to mark the Duke of York’s birthday on 19 February.

But, in the wake of Prince Andrew’s controversial friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which led to his reduced role in the Royal Family, Liverpool’s mayor Joe Anderson said the city would not be raising the flag, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson during the Netball World Cup at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson reportedly said flying the flag 'would not be appropriate' (PA)

Responding to the reports, Mayor Anderson told the site: "No, we won't be doing that.

"I don't think that would be appropriate."

Alluding to the recent fallout from Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview, Mayor Anderson added: "When you look at his behaviour – it wouldn't be appropriate for us to mark his birthday.”

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Andrew stepped down from royal public life in November after the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight appearance.

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.

Jeffrey Epstein, center, at a West Palm Beach, Fla., court appearance in July 2008. (Photo by Palm Beach Post/TNS/Sipa USA)
Andrew's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, centre, has caused controversy (PA)
Undated BBC handout photo showing the Duke of York , speaking for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis.
Andrew stepped down from royal public life in November after the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight appearance (PA)

The bells of Westminster Abbey will still ring out in celebration of the Duke’s 60th birthday.

But it has been confirmed that the policy of flying Union flags on royal birthdays is being re-examined after councils were ordered to do so for Andrew, as is the custom.

Downing Street said the matter was being looked into after critics branded the reminder “crass and offensive”.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils will decide locally when to fly flags.

A spokesman for the LGA said: “Councils have their own flag-raising guidelines or protocols and will decide locally how to respond to any requests to fly particular flags on specific occasions.”

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