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Councils will no longer be ordered to fly the flag for Prince Andrew's birthday after a government climbdown.

Local authorities had been told in an email to fly the flag for Andrew's 60th birthday on February 19.

The move sparked fury because of allegations that Andrew slept with Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, when she was 17.

Andrew, who strenuously denies the allegations, is facing calls to talk to the FBI and US prosecutors.

But this evening the government said the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had rowed back because of Prince Andrew's decision to withdraw from public duties.

A Government spokesman said: "DCMS will be advising Councils that there is no requirement to fly flags on the 19th February following the decision by the Duke of York to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future."

Ms Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, says she and the Duke slept together on three separate occasions, including when she was 17 - still a minor under US law.

The story prompted a strong reaction from Ms Giuffre.

(Image: BBC)

She wrote on Twitter: "Oh mummy they didn’t even raise the flag on my birthday- if only life was so hard."

She went on to urge the Prince to "get over" himself and to "tell the truth."

Earlier, Downing Street said the matter was being looked into after critics branded the reminder "crass and offensive".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: "This was an administrative email about long-standing policy.

"I understand DCMS (Department of 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."

A spokesman for the DCMS added: "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."

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said that Liverpool City Council will not be obeying any such requests from the Government because it would not be "appropriate".

But it was confirmed that the bells of Westminster Abbey will still ring out in celebration of the Duke of York's 60th birthday.

Certain royal birthdays, including the duke's, are traditionally marked by the ringing of bells at the Abbey.

A spokeswoman for the central 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."