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Politicians, celebrities and churches have been taking to social media to celebrate St George’s Day, but it turns out they have all got the date wrong.

The Church of England said that the celebration of the nation’s patron saint would instead be marked on April 29 this year, rather than the usual 23rd, due to the timing of Easter.

According to the Church’s rules: “When St George’s Day or St Mark’s Day falls between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter inclusive, it is transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter. If both fall in this period, St George’s Day is transferred to the Monday and St Mark’s Day to the Tuesday.”

However, that appeared to be news to York Minster, which tweeted: “The flag of #StGeorge is lofted high up in the Stoneyard just across the way from York Minster this #StGeorgesDay.”

Questioned about whether its staff knew the date had been moved, the account replied: “We do but we love him so much we thought we’d celebrate him twice this year.”

Westminster Abbey posted an image of a stained glass portrayal in St Benedict’s Chapel, which shows St George slaying the dragon.

However, the account administrators later insisted “we didn’t say in our original post that we are celebrating it today. We are celebrating it on 29th”.

Prime Minister Theresa May, England football captain Harry Kane, actor Stephen Fry and singer Sir Paul McCartney all tweeted references to St George’s Day, apparently unaware of the calendar shift.

Yet even they were closer to the truth than the Labour Party, which was criticised after tweeting and then deleting a St George’s Day message on the 22nd.